Batch Adsorption of Organic Dyes by Organo-bagasse: Carbon Content, pH Influence, Kinetics and Isotherms (RESEARCH NOTE)

Abstract

The influence of carbon content in three organic dyes, blue21, yellow20, and green40 on the adsorption behavior using organo-bagasse as a biosorbent was investigated. The organo-bagasse was prepared by adsolubilisation using tetradecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide as a chemical modifying agent. The precursor and organo-bagasse were characterized by elemental analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra, and scanning electron microscopy images. A number of batch tests were carried out as functions of contact time, initial pH solution, and initial dye concentration. The results showed that the adsorption capacity of green40 was the highest, followed by yellow20 and then blue21. Adsorption of the organic dyes increased as the carbon content in the organic dyes increased. The adsorption of the three dyes reached equilibrium within 3.0 h and at this condition the adsorption capacities of blue21, yellow20, and green40 were 130.50, 166.55 and 174.81 mg/g respectively. The maximum adsorption was obtained at pH 2.0. The kinetic data followed the pseudo-second order model indicating rate of interacting formation on the biosorbent surface was the rate of limiting step. The results showed that the carbon content in the organic dyes had a significant effect on the adsorption behavior of organic dyes by the organo-bagasse.