Biosorption of Reactive Red 198 from an aqueous solution using Acalypha indica

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe biosorption of reactive red 198 dye using Acalypha indica was investigated in a batch experimental process. The equilibrium dye uptake capacity of A. indica was determined with the influence of various environmental parameters such as sorbent dosage (0.02–0.1 g 100 mL−1), initial pH (1–6), and initial dye concentration (30–110 mg L−1). Batch experiments were carried out for biosorption kinetics and isotherm studies. The results showed that dye uptake capacity was found to increase with decreases in biosorbent dosage. Equilibrium uptake capacity was found to be more at pH value of 2, when compared with all other pH values studied. The equilibrium data was analyzed with the use of Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherm models. The equilibrium data was found to be fitted very well with the Freundlich isotherm model when compared with the Langmuir isotherm model. The kinetic data was analyzed using pseudo‐first order and pseudo‐second order kinetic models. From the result, it was observed that the kinetic data was found to fit well with the pseudo‐second order kinetic model. The surface morphology of the leaves of the A. indica biomass was exemplified by scanning electron microscope. Fourier transform infrared analysis was employed to confirm the existence of an amine group in the A. indica. © 2011 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.