Removal of methylene blue using balanites aegyptiaca bark powder as low-cost and eco-friendly biosorbent
Research Journal of Textile and Apparel
ISSN: 1560-6074
Article publication date: 1 December 2021
Issue publication date: 10 February 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the potential application of Balanites aegyptiaca bark powder (BABP) for removing a basic textile dye, methylene blue (MB), from aqueous solutions.
Design/methodology/approach
The biosorbent (BABP) was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and point of zero charge (pHPZC). Batch mode was selected to study the biosorption of MB onto BABP surface at different experimental conditions (shaking speed, contact time, initial solution pH, ionic strength, solution temperature, biosorbent dosage and initial dye concentration). Besides, the reusability of BABP for MB biosorption was also examined.
Findings
The biosorption results revealed that approximately 96% of MB was removed successfully at the optimized operational conditions. Pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, respectively, better described the adsorption kinetics and isotherms. The monolayer biosorption capacity (qmax) for MB was about 97.09 mg/g. According to thermodynamics findings, the MB biosorption onto BABP is an exothermic and spontaneous process. The results demonstrate that BABP can be considered as potential eco-friendly, readily available and low-cost biosorbent for hazardous textile dyes removal from water bodies and also provides a promising method for minimization of agricultural solid wastes (e.g. plant barks).
Originality/value
The utilization of Balanites aegyptiaca bark powder (BABP), solid waste material, as low-cost and eco-friendly biosorbent for the removal of hazardous basic textile dye (methylene blue) from the aquatic environment.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully thank the Chemistry Department, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya for providing the necessary facilities to do this work. The authors also wish to thank the Criminal Investigation Department, Sabha City Branch for providing the FTIR instrument. The authors also thank Mr. Joshua O. Ighalo from the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria for the valuable discussion and revising this paper.
Declaration of Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Citation
Amar, I.A., Hassan, S.M., Aqeela, F.H., Najem, M.Y. and Altohami, F.A. (2022), "Removal of methylene blue using balanites aegyptiaca bark powder as low-cost and eco-friendly biosorbent", Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, Vol. 26 No. 1, pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1108/RJTA-07-2020-0075
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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