Sugarcane vinasse remediation through HA–nCaO within a computational sustainability and green SDG framework

The disposal of sugarcane vinasse, a highly acidic distillery effluent, presents a serious environmental management challenge. In this study, a novel composite adsorbent was developed by integrating green-synthesized nano-calcium oxide (nCaO) with humic acid (HA) via an aqueous co-precipitation method and ultrasonic-assisted stabilization. Characterization (XRD, FTIR, SEM, BET) confirmed the formation of a mesoporous hybrid with a surface area of 112.6 m² g⁻¹, average pore size of 6.3 nm, and enhanced surface basicity due to HA functionalization. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated that an optimal dosage of 5 g L⁻¹ achieved 82.4% COD removal, 76.1% TOC reduction, and 89.5% color removal within 90 min, surpassing conventional treatments such as lime neutralization, Fenton oxidation, anaerobic digestion, and biochar systems under comparable conditions. The acidic vinasse (pH < 4) was neutralized to 7.6 ± 0.2 without the addition of external alkali. The incorporation of a chalcogel stage further promoted precipitation of suspended solids and volatile fatty acids, reducing residual organic load. Kinetic modeling indicated a pseudo-second-order fit (R² = 0.991), suggesting a chemisorption-dominated mechanism coupled with acid–base neutralization and partial precipitation. Reusability testing confirmed ≥ 68% efficiency retention after four cycles. Sustainability evaluation using the Need Quality Sustainability (NQS) index and Koel’s Pyramid metrics indicated favorable environmental and operational performance, aligning with UN SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).