Skip to main content
Log in

Removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution by activated carbon prepared from cashew nut shell as a new low-cost adsorbent

  • Published:
Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Methylene blue dye was adsorbed on an adsorbent prepared from cashew nut shell. A batch adsorption study was carried out with variable adsorbent amount, initial dye concentration, contact time and pH. Studies showed that the pH of aqueous solutions affected dye removal as a result of removal efficiency increased with increasing solution pH. The experimental data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, Koble-Corrigan, Toth, Temkin, Sips and Dubinin-Radushkevich models of adsorption using MATLAB 7.1. The experimental data yielded excellent fits within the following isotherm order: Redlich-Peterson>Toth>Sips>Koble-Corrigan>Langmuir>Temkin>Dubinin-Radushkevich>Freundlich, based on its correlation coefficient values. Three simplified kinetic models including a pseudofirst-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion equations were selected to follow the adsorption process. It was shown that the adsorption of methylene blue could be described by the pseudo-second-order equation. The results indicate that cashew nut shell activated carbon could be employed as a low cost alternative to commercial activated carbon in the removal of dyes from wastewater.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. T.V.N. Padmesh, K. Vijayaraghavan, G. Sekaran and M. Velan, Dyes Pigm., 71, 77 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Y. S. Ho, T.H. Chiang and Y. M. Hsueh, Process Biochem., 40, 119 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. A. Reife, Dyes, Environmental Chemistry, Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 4th Ed. Washington, John Wiley & Sons, 753 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  4. U. Pagga and D. Braun, Chemosphere, 15, 479 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. V. Vadivelan and K.V. Kumar, J. Colloid Interf. Sci., 286, 90 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. V. K. Garg, M. Amita, R. Kumar and R. Gupta, Dyes Pigm., 63, 243 (2004).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. R. Sanghi and B. Bhattacharya, Color Technol., 118, 256 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. V. Meshko, L. Markovska, M. Mincheva and A. E. Rodrigues, Water Res., 35, 3357 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. P. K. Malik, Dyes Pigm., 56, 239 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. M. Goyal, S. Singh and R. C. Bansal, Carbon Science, 5, 170 (2004).

    Google Scholar 

  11. F.K. Bangash and A. Manaf, J. Chem. Soc. Pak., 26, 111 (2004).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. E. Lorenc-Grabowska and G. Gryglewicz, Dyes Pigm., 68, 1 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. C. Namasivayam and D. Kavitha, Dyes Pigm., 54, 47 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. R. L. Teng, F. Ch. Wu and R. S. Juang, Carbon, 41, 487 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. B. K. Singh and N. S. Rawat, J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol., 61, 307 (1994).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. F. C. Wu, R. L. Tseng and R. S. Juang, J. Hazard. Mater., B69, 287 (1999).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. S. Rajeshwarisivaraj, P. Senthilkumar and V. Subburam, Bioresour. Technol., 80, 233 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. W. T. Tsai, C.Y. Chang, M. C. Lin, S. F. Chien, H. F. Sun and M. F. Hsieh, Chemosphere, 45, 51 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. S. Senthilkumaar, P. R. Varadarajan, K. Porkodi and C. V. Subbhuraam, J. Colloid Interf. Sci., 284, 78 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. J. Avom, J.K. Mbadcam, C. Noubactep and P. Germain, Carbon, 35, 365 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. N. Yalcin and V. Sevinc, Carbon, 38, 1943 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. A.H. El-Sheikh and A. P. Newman, J. Anal. Appl. Pyrol., 71, 151 (2004).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. B. S. Girgis and A. A. El-Hendawy, Micropor. Mesopor. Mater., 52, 105 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. A. Aygun, S. Yenisoy-Karakas and I. Duman, Micropor. Mesopor. Mater., 66, 189 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. B.H. Hameed, A. L. Ahmad and K. N. A. Latiff, Dyes Pigm., 75, 143 (2007).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. A.A. Attia, B. S. Girgis and N.A. Fathy, Dyes Pigm., 76, 282 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. I. A.W. Tan, A.L. Ahmad and B.H. Hameed, Desalination, 225, 13 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. A. Khaled, A. El. Nemr, A. El-Sikaily and O. Abdelwahab, Desalination, 238, 210 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. M. M. El-Halwany, Desalination, 250, 208 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. K. S.W. Sing, D. H. Everett, R. A.W. Haul, L. Moscou, R. A. Pierotti and J. Rouquerol, Pure Appl. Chem., 57, 603 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. S. Wang, L. Li, H. Wu and Z.H. Zhu, J. Colloid Interf. Sci., 292, 336 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. B. H. Hameed, D. K. Mahmoud and A. L. Ahmed, J. Hazard. Mater., 158, 65 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Y. Wong and J. Yu, Water Res., 33, 3512 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. I. Langmuir, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 40, 1361 (1918).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. H. M. F. Freundlich, J. Phys. Chem., 57, 385 (1906).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. O. Redlich and D. L. Peterson, J. Phys. Chem., 63, 1024 (1959).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. R.A. Koble and T. E. Corrigan, Ind. Eng. Chem., 44, 383 (1952).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. J. Toth, Acta Chim. Acad. Sci. Hung., 69, 311 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  39. M. J. Temkin and V. Pyzhev, Acta Physicochim. URSS, 12, 217 (1940).

    Google Scholar 

  40. B. Volesky, Hydrometallurgy, 71, 179 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. M.M. Dubinin and L.V. Radushkevich, Chem. Zentr., 1, 875 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  42. S. Lagregren, Kungl. Sven. Veten. Akad. Handl., 24, 1 (1898).

    Google Scholar 

  43. Y. S. Ho and G. McKay, Process Biochem., 34, 451 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. W. J. Weber and Jr. J. C. Morriss, J. Sanit. Eng. Div. Proc. Am. Soc. Civ. Eng., 89, 31 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ponnusamy Senthil Kumar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kumar, P.S., Ramalingam, S. & Sathishkumar, K. Removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution by activated carbon prepared from cashew nut shell as a new low-cost adsorbent. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 28, 149–155 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-010-0342-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-010-0342-0

Key words

Navigation