Methylene blue adsorption using pomelo peels charcoal prepared by traditional charcoal burning

Abstract

The pomelo peels charcoal was successfully prepared by traditional charcoal burning and its adsorption of methylene blue was investigated. The influences of methylene blue adsorption including contact time and methylene blue initial concentration were studied at room temperature. The adsorption rate initially increased rapidly until 24 h and 600 mg/L of methylene blue initial concentration. The further increase in contact time and methylene blue initial concentration did not significantly increase the adsorption due to it reached equilibrium. Kinetic of adsorption were investigated, that the pseudo-second order model best described adsorption kinetic data. The adsorption isotherms were evaluated and the data correlated with Langmuir adsorption model with the maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 166.67 mg/g. The adsorption of pomelo peel charcoal was studied comparing to other adsorbents at the same experimental conditions. The results showed higher adsorption of pomelo peel charcoal than dried pomelo peel, longan wood charcoal, coconut shell charcoal, litchi wood charcoal and tamarind wood charcoal, respectively.