Methylene blue and iodine adsorption onto an activated desert plant

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 99; no. 17; pp. 8441 - 8444
• Main Authors: Bestani, B., Benderdouche, N., Benstaali, B., Belhakem, M., Addou, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2008; [New York, NY]: Elsevier Ltd; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adsorption; Adsorption - drug effects; Biodegradation, Environmental - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon - pharmacology; Desert Climate; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration - drug effects; Iodine - isolation & purification; Iodine number; Kinetics; Methylene blue; Methylene Blue - isolation & purification; Salsola; Salsola - metabolism; Salsola vermiculata; Surface Properties; Temperature; Time Factors; Zinc chloride activation; Algeria; Iodine number; Salsola vermiculata; Adsorption; Zinc chloride activation; Methylene blue; Xerophyte; Zinc chloride; Activation; Iodine
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2008.02.053

Although frequently less toxic than many colorless effluents, colored effluents are generally considered by the public as an indicator of pollution. The present investigation aimed at identifying the effectiveness of a local desert plant characteristic of Southwest Algeria and known as Salsola vermiculata, which was pyrolyzed and treated chemically with a 50% zinc chloride solution, to remove methylene blue and iodine. The natural plant adsorption capacities were respectively 23 mg/g and 272 mg/g for methylene blue and iodine. Corresponding results for the pyrolyzed plant uptakes were 53 mg/g and 951 mg/g, while those for the pyrolyzed plant, chemically treated and activated at 650 °C, were 130 mg/g and 1178 mg/g, respectively. In comparison, the standard Merck activated carbon capacities were 200 mg/g for methylene blue and 950 mg/g for iodine. Consequently, this low-cost local plant may also prove useful for the removal of large organic molecules as well as potential inorganic contaminants.