Title: Adsorption kinetics of dye wastewater in aqueous solution by activated carbon from capsicum straw

Authors: Muqing Qiu; Shuiying Xiong; Jianbo Lin

Addresses: College of Life Science, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China ' Department of Life Science, Shaoxing University Yuanpei College, Shaoxing 312000, China ' Department of Life Science, Shaoxing University Yuanpei College, Shaoxing 312000, China

Abstract: The presence of these coloured compounds in wastewater is not only aesthetically displeasing but also they impede light penetration in the treatment pans, thus upsetting the biological treatment processes within the treatment plant. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce dye concentration in the wastewater. Activated carbon was obtained from capsicum straw by chemical activation using KOH as an activator. Then, it was used as an adsorbent for the removal of dye wastewater from aqueous solution. The adsorption of dye wastewater in aqueous solution by activated carbon from capsicum straw was carried out. The effect of contact time, concentration of dye wastewater from aqueous solution and temperature was researched. The experimental data were analysed by the Langmuir and Freundlich models of adsorption. Kinetic adsorption data were analysed by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model, the pseudo-second-order model and the intraparticle diffusion model respectively. The thermodynamics parameters were also calculated. From these results of adsorption process of dye wastewater from aqueous solution by the activated carbon, the activated carbon was found to be both effective and economical.

Keywords: adsorption kinetics; dye wastewater; activated carbon; capsicum straw; wastewater treatment; kinetic modelling; thermodynamics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2016.077216

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2016 Vol.19 No.2, pp.91 - 102

Accepted: 13 Oct 2015
Published online: 24 Jun 2016 *

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