The rise in the discharge of pharmaceutical wastewater in the form of heavy metals Cr6+, Fe3+, and Pb2+ has become an issue of serious concern to the environment and to the general population since these elements are toxic, persistent, and may accumulate in the body. Cr(vi), FE(iii) and Pb(ii) are common toxic contaminants in the Pharma effluents and their quick, effective elimination is paramount in regulation compliance and environmental safety. A simple, scalable synthesis of a bimetallic NiO/CuO nanocomposite was reported in this study through a concurrent coprecipitation-hydrothermal reaction, and then subjected to calcination at 400 0 C. This paper is concerned with synthesis and use of nickel oxide/copper oxide (NiO/CuO) nanocomposites to effectively clean such metal ions that are present in pharmaceutical effluents. NiO/CuO nanocomposite was produced by a slight modification of the sol-gel technique and investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to ascertain the structural, morphological and functional characteristics of the material. The effect of pH, contact time and adsorbent dosage on the adsorption efficiency was studied through batch adsorption. It was found that, at a dosage of 0.8 g, the removal efficiencies increase to 100% for Cr, 96.81% for Fe, and 92.40% for Pb. This demonstrates near-complete removal of Cr and very high removal for Fe and Pb, indicating that the adsorption capacity of the nanocomposite is nearing saturation. Kinetics of the adsorption process was in pseudo-second order and adsorbed monolayers on a homogeneous surface which is pointing to Langmuir isotherm. The regeneration studies indicated the multiple adsorption-desorption cycles of the nanocomposite with its stability and reusability. This report establishes the possibilities of NiO/CuO nanocomposites as a powerful, inexpensive, and ecologically safe adsorbent to treat heavy-metal-contaminated pharmaceutical wastewater to be a part of the sustainability of waste sources and pollution prevention.

Abattoir wastewater is a hazardous effluent, which is of high concentration of heavy metals (Cu2+, Fe3+, Pb2+) which are very dangerous to the environment and health. Traditional treatment procedures usually do not identify the high removal efficiencies needed to discharge safety. We synthesized TiO2 /CdS nanocomposite through a hydrothermal process in this study and examined its performance in the adsorption of Cu2+, Fe3+ and Pb2+ ions through synthetic abattoir wastewater in ambient conditions. The material had a high specific surface area (= 130 m2 g -1) and the TiO2 nano-particles were evenly dispersed on a CdS substrate as evidenced by the X -ray diffraction, EDX and BET analysis. The Langmuir model (R2 larger than 0.99) describing the adsorption isotherms was an indication that the monolayer is homogeneous, meaning that it is well-covered, whereas the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 larger than 0.98) demonstrated that chemisorption is the rate-limiting step. The findings confirm TiO2/CdS nanocomposite as a high-potential, reusable adsorbent to effectively extract Cu2+, Fe3+ and Pb2+ in abattoir wastewater, which is an economical alternative to traditional treatment. Moreover, synergistic behavior between narrow bandgap semiconductor CdS and high-surface-area TiO2 high affinity of the composite towards metal ions was also explained. The next step of work will be conducted in the pilot-scale implementation and evaluation of the performance of the composite on the abattoir effluents.

This paper examines how designers engage with sustainable materials through a practice-based methodology that integrates reflection, experimentation, and material understanding. It repositions sustainability not as a static design objective, but as a dynamic, iterative process that emerges through the act of making. By engaging with renewable, bio-based, and waste-derived materials, the research demonstrates how creative practice fosters ecological literacy and responsible production. Drawing upon design research and case-based evidence, this study argues that sustainability evolves from experiential learning, material dialogue, and systemic thinking rather than prescriptive frameworks. The outcomes emphasize the designer’s evolving role as a mediator between creativity, ecology, and technology.