Adsorption of Methylene Blue Dye onto Bush Cane Bark Powder

Abstract

The adsorption of methylene blue (MB) dye on bush cane bark powder has been studied by analyzing the effect of contact time, initial dye concentration, adsorbent dose, pH, and temperature on the amount of the MB dye adsorbed per unit mass of the bush cane bark powder adsorbent. An optimum adsorption could be achieved during 80 min contact time but, thereafter, decreased with contact time beyond 80 min. The adsorption of the methylene blue dye increased with increasing the initial dye concentration, temperature and pH. However, the amount of methylene blue adsorbed decreased with increasing the dosage of the adsorbent; a phenomenon attributed to a plausible agglomeration of the adsorbent and blocking of the preferred adsorption sites with increasing adsorbent dosage. The adsorption mechanism of the dye obeyed the Freundlich isotherm. Kinetic studies showed that the methylene blue adsorption onto bush cane bark powder adsorbent followed a second order reaction kinetics. The adsorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infra-red spectrophotometer and scanning electron microscope analysis.