నైరూప్య

Kinetic and Equilibrium Studies of Malachite Green Adsorption by Low Cost Adsorbent

Saravanan Narayanan and Rathika Govindasamy

In the present study, the adsorption capacity of waste materials of copper pod flowers was determined for the removal of Malachite green dye from aqueous solutions. The adsorption capacity was determined as a function of contact time, adsorbent dosage, initial metal ion concentration, pH and temperature. The optimum contact time, adsorbent dosage, pH and temperature were found to be 100 min, 1 g, pH 7 and 30C respectively. The characterization of the adsorbent was identified by using scanning electron microscope and X-Ray diffraction data. The adsorption equilibrium data have been analyzed using Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm model. Equilibrium adsorption data obeyed Freundlich isotherm model. The adsorption kinetic data were studied using pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order kinetic models and intra particle diffusion. It was found that the adsorption of Malachite green dye onto activated carbon followed pseudo-second order kinetic model. The results clearly indicate that the activated carbon produced from copper pod flower could be employed as a low-cost and an easily available adsorbent for the elimination of Malachite green dye from waste water.