DOI: 10.11648/j.mc.20261403.12 ISSN: 2329-180X

Simultaneous Removal of Anionic and Cationic Dyes from Aqueous Solution Using Commercial Activated Carbon

N’guadi Allou, Corneil Gnamba, Mougo Tigori, Manda Okeu, Donourou Diabaté
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Synthetic dyes use in several sectors such as cosmetics, printing and textiles, can be harmful to the environment due to the lack of effluents treatment from these sectors. This study therefore aimed to contribute to the simultaneous removal of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) from aqueous solutions using industrial activated carbon based on coconut shells. Activated carbon performance on MB and MO adsorption was evaluated by studying parameters influencing the process such as contact time, adsorbent mass, pH, temperature, initial dye concentration and adsorption selectivity. The removal rate was 99% for MB and 95% for MO after the optimal times of 10 and 20 minutes respectively. A mass of 2 g seems sufficient to remove 1 L of colored solutions of MB and MO concentrated at 50 mg L −1 . As far as concerning the pH, the optimal values were between 10 to 12 for MB and between 2 to 6 for MO. Furthermore, temperature had no significant effect on dye adsorption. Adsorption kinetics simulation showed that the process obeyed pseudo-second-order model following chemical adsorption while adsorption isotherm was better described by Langmuir monolayer and Freundlich multilayer models on heterogeneous surface. Langmuir model indicated maximum adsorption capacities of 21.23 mg g −1 for MB and 6.43 mg g −1 for MO. The simultaneous adsorption competitiveness of the two dyes indicated an adsorption selectivity in favor of the cationic dye. As result of this study, it appears that industrial activated carbon based on coconut shells could be safe and more effective adsorbent in MB and MO removal in aqueous media.

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