Removal of Methylene Blue From Aqueous Solution Using Coconut Shell Powder

• Published in: I-Manager's Journal on Future Engineering and Technology Vol. 7; no. 2; pp. 25 - 33
• Main Authors: Yesuratnam, V, Meghavathu, Deepa, R. Padma Sree
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nagercoil iManager Publications 01.11.2011
• Subjects: Adsorbents; Adsorption; Aqueous solutions; Contact; Dyes; Mathematical models; Methylene blue; Shells
• ISSN: 0973-2632; 2230-7184

In the present work, coconut shell powder obtained from waste coconut shells was used to remove a textile dye-Methylene Blue [MB] from an aqueous solution by adsorption technique under varying conditions of contact time, pH, initial dye concentration, adsorbent particle size, adsorbent dosage, and temperature. The dye adsorption experiments were carried out in a batch process. Experimental results showed that increase in contact time, pH, temperature, adsorbent dosage, and decrease in initial dye concentration, adsorbent size favored the adsorption. The dye adsorption equilibrium was attained at 40 minutes of contact time. Equilibrium data are mathematically modeled using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Redlich-Peterson isotherm models. The adsorption kinetics of Methylene Blue has also been studied in terms of pseudo- first- order and pseudo- second order. In order to predict the nature of the adsorption, free energy of adsorption (?G), change in enthalpy (?H) and entropy change (?S) were estimated. The results confirmed that the coconut shell powder is an efficient adsorbent for the removal of basic dye, Methylene Blue.