Removal of an anionic Eosin dye from aqueous solution using modified activated carbon prepared from date palm fronds

Abstract

• Modified Activated carbon (ACDPF -2) from date palm fronds for adsorption of anionic dye. • Very high surface area of 348.3679 m2 g−1 with pore volume 0.1756 cm3 g−1. • Effective at natural pH of dye with adsorption performance >99%. • The max adsorption capacity for EY is 217 mg g−1. • The adsorption kinetics follows a pseudo-second-order pathway. Date palm frond powder-derived activated carbon (ACDPF) was produced through the physical activation process, as a low-cost alternative to commercial activated carbon (AC). To increase the adsorption capability to the eosin yellow (EY) dye, ACDPF was treated with a 10% w/v concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) oxidizing agent. Adsorbent dosage, contact time, and dye concentration were used as three operational parameters to investigate the viability of utilizing ACDPF as an adsorbent to remove EY dye from an aqueous solution. Results revealed that 1.25 g/L dosage, 20 mg/L dye concentration, and 6 h of adsorption duration were the optimum parameters. Freundlich isotherm best described the equilibrium adsorption data, and the EY dye was adsorbed over ACDPF according to a pseudo-second-order kinetic. According to the findings, the maximum adsorption capacity was 217 mg/g, and treated AC (ACDPF -2) had a removal efficiency of 99.78% compared to 98.5% for untreated AC (ACDPF -1).