Cempedak durian as a potential biosorbent for the removal of Brilliant Green dye from aqueous solution: equilibrium, thermodynamics and kinetics studies.

Abstract

Cempedak durian peel (CDP) was used to remove Brilliant Green (BG) dye from aqueous solution. The adsorption of BG onto CDP was studied as functions of contact time, pH, temperature, ionic strength and initial concentration. In order to understand the adsorption process and its mechanisms, adsorption isotherm and kinetics models were used. The experiments were done under optimized 2-h contact time and ambient pH. Adsorption study showed that the Langmuir model best fitted with experimental data, and the maximum adsorption capacity was determined as 0.203mmol g(-1) (97.995mg g(-1)). Adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo 2nd order model, and intraparticle diffusion is involved but not as the rate-limiting step while Boyd model suggests that film diffusion might be in control of the adsorption process. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed that OH, C=O, C=C and NH functional groups might be involved in the adsorption of BG onto CDP. Thermodynamic study suggested that the adsorption of BG onto CDP is endothermic with ΔH (o) value of 12kJ mol(-1) and adsorption is feasible. Regeneration of CDP's ability to remove BG was also studied using three different washing solutions. NaOH (0.1M) was not only sufficient to be used to regenerate CDP's ability to remove BG but also improved its adsorption capability.