Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Optimization of methyl orange removal from aqueous solution by response surface methodology using spent tea leaves as adsorbent

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effective disposal of redundant tea waste is crucial to environmental protection and comprehensive utilization of trash resources. In this work, the removal of methyl orange (MO) from aqueous solution using spent tea leaves as the sorbent was investigated in a batch experiment. First, the effects of various parameters such as temperature, adsorption time, dose of spent tea leaves, and initial concentration of MO were investigated. Then, the response surface methodology (RSM), based on Box-Behnken design, was employed to obtain the optimum adsorption conditions. The optimal conditions could be obtained at an initial concentration of MO of 9.75 mg·L−1, temperature of 35.3°C, contact time of 63.8 min, and an adsorbent dosage 3.90 g·L−1. Under the optimized conditions, the maximal removal of MO was 58.2%. The results indicate that spent tea leaves could be used as an effective and economical adsorbent in the removal of MO from aqueous solution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Devi L G, Kumar S G, Anantha Raju K S, Eraiah Rajashekhar K. Photo-Fenton and photo-Fenton-like processes for the degradation of methyl orange in aqueous medium: influence of oxidation states of iron. Chemical Papers, 2010, 64(3): 378–385

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. He J, Cai Q Z, Luo Q, Zhang D Q, Tang T T, Jiang F Y. Photocatalytic removal of methyl orange in an aqueous solution by a WO3/TiO2 composite film. Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2010, 27(2): 435–438

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Liu R H, Sheng G P, Sun M, Zang G L, Li WW, Tong Z H, Dong F, Lam M H, Yu H Q. Enhanced reductive degradation of methyl orange in a microbial fuel cell through cathode modification with redox mediators. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2011, 89(1): 201–208

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Asuha S, Gao Y W, Deligeer W, Yu M, Suyala B, Zhao S. Adsorptive removal of methyl orange using mesoporous maghemite. Journal of Porous Materials, 2011, 18(5): 581–587

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ansari R, Mosayebzadeh Z. Application of polyaniline as an efficient and novel adsorbent for azo dyes removal from textile wastewaters. Chemical Papers, 2011, 65(1): 1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Abdullah A H, Abdullah E A, Zainal Z, Hussein M Z, Ban T K. Adsorptive performance of penta-bismuth hepta-oxide nitrate, Bi5O7NO3, for removal of methyl orange dye. Water Sci Technol, 2012, 65(9): 1632–1638

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Tanyildizi M S. Modeling of adsorption isotherms and kinetics of reactive dye from aqueous solution by peanut hull. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2011, 168(3): 1234–1240

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Yu J X, Chi R A, He Z Y, Qi Y F. Adsorption performances of cationic dyes from aqueous solution on pyromellitic dianhydride modified sugarcane bagasse. Separation Science and Technology, 2011, 46(3): 452–459

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hameed B H. Spent tea leaves: a new non-conventional and low-cost adsorbent for removal of basic dye from aqueous solutions. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2009, 161(2–3): 753–759

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Tunç O, Tanaci H, Aksu Z. Potential use of cotton plant wastes for the removal of Remazol Black B reactive dye. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2009, 163(1): 187–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhang W, Li H, Kan X, Dong L, Yan H, Jiang Z, Yang H, Li A, Cheng R. Adsorption of anionic dyes from aqueous solutions using chemically modified straw. Bioresource Technology, 2012, 117: 40–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Hameed B H, Ahmad A A. Batch adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution by garlic peel, an agricultural waste biomass. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2009, 164(2–3): 870–875

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Nasuha N, Hameed B H, Din A T. Rejected tea as a potential low-cost adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2010, 175(1–3): 126–132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Nasuha N, Hameed B H. Adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution onto NaOH-modified rejected tea. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2011, 166(2): 783–786

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Malkoc E. Ni(II) removal from aqueous solutions using cone biomass of Thuja orientalis. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2006, 137(2): 899–908

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Hameed B H, Mahmoud D K, Ahmad A L. Equilibrium modeling and kinetic studies on the adsorption of basic dye by a low-cost adsorbent: coconut (Cocos nucifera) bunch waste. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2008, 158(1): 65–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Bhatti H N, Akhtar N, Saleem N. Adsorptive removal of methylene blue by low-cost Citrus sinensis bagasse: equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic characterization. Arab Journal of Science Engineering, 2012, 37(1): 9–18

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Vijayaraghavan K, Palanivelu K, Velan M. Biosorption of copper(II) and cobalt(II) from aqueous solutions by crab shell particles. Bioresource Technology, 2006, 97(12): 1411–1419

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Özacar M, Sengil I A. A kinetic study of metal complex dye sorption onto pine sawdust. Process Biochemistry, 2005, 40(2): 565–572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ponnusami V, Aravindhan R, Karthikraj K, Ramadoss G, Srivastava S N. Adsorption of methylene blue on to gulmohar plant leaf powder: equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic analysis. Journal of Environmental Protection Science, 2009, 3: 1–10

    Google Scholar 

  21. Han R, Zou W, Yu W, Cheng S, Wang Y, Shi J. Biosorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution by fallen phoenix tree’s leaves. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2007, 141(1): 156–162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215011, China

    Liangzhi Li, Ci Yan, Weiqiang Guo, Tianyi Yang, Jiaolong Fu, Jiaoyan Tang & Cuiying Hu

  2. Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Environment Functional Materials, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, China

    Liangzhi Li, Ci Yan, Weiqiang Guo, Tianyi Yang, Jiaolong Fu, Jiaoyan Tang & Cuiying Hu

  3. Beijing Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing, 100026, China

    Xiaolin Li

Authors
  1. Liangzhi Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaolin Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ci Yan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Weiqiang Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tianyi Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jiaolong Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jiaoyan Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Cuiying Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Liangzhi Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, L., Li, X., Yan, C. et al. Optimization of methyl orange removal from aqueous solution by response surface methodology using spent tea leaves as adsorbent. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 8, 496–502 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-013-0578-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-013-0578-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation