A CuAl-layered double hydroxide/hydrochar (CuAl-LDH/HC) composite derived from Pennisetum setaceum was synthesized and evaluated for Congo Red (CR) removal from aqueous solutions. Hydrochar was prepared via hydrothermal carbonization and subsequently integrated with CuAl-LDH using a coprecipitation method. Structural and surface properties were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDX, and BET anal…