Journal: Separation Science and Technology 

Authors: Bhatnagar A.; Kumar E.; Minocha A.K.; Jeon B.-H.; Song H.; Seo Y.-C.

Abstract:

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the adsorption potential of Citrus limonum (lemon) peel as an adsorbent for the removal of two anionic dyes, Methyl orange (MO) and Congo red (CR) from aqueous solutions. The adsorption was studied as a function of contact time, initial concentration, and temperature by batch method. The adsorption capacities of lemon peel adsorbent for dyes were found 50.3 and 34.5mg/g for MO and CR, respectively. The equilibrium adsorption data was well described by the Langmuir model. Three simplified kinetic models viz. pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Weber and Morris intraparticle diffusion model were tested to describe the adsorption process. Kinetic parameters, rate constants, equilibrium sorption capacities, and related correlation coefficients for each kinetic model were determined. It was found that the present system of dyes adsorption on lemon peel adsorbent could be described more favorably by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The results of the present study reveal that lemon peel adsorbent can be fruitfully utilized as an inexpensive adsorbent for dyes removal from effluents.

Keywords: Adsorbent; Anionic dyes; Equilibrium isotherms; Kinetic modeling; Lemon peel waste

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01496390802437461