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Rhodamine B dye sequestration using Gmelina aborea leaf powder
Olugbenga Solomon Bello1,2, Esther Oluwadamilola Alabi1, Kayode Adesina Adegoke3
1Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Heliyon
|January 29, 2020
Summary
Chemically prepared activated carbon from Gmelina aborea leaves (GALAC) effectively removes Rhodamine B dye from water. This cost-effective adsorbent shows high capacity and spontaneous, endothermic adsorption, making it a promising solution for dye wastewater treatment.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science: Development and characterization of novel adsorbent materials.
- Environmental Chemistry: Application of adsorbents for pollutant removal from aqueous solutions.
Background:
- Rhodamine B (Rh-B) dye is a common pollutant in industrial wastewater.
- Activated carbon (AC) is widely used for dye removal, but cost can be a barrier.
- Exploring plant-based precursors for low-cost AC production is crucial for sustainable environmental remediation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize activated carbon from Gmelina aborea leaves (GALAC) for Rhodamine B dye removal.
- To investigate the adsorption mechanism and kinetics of Rh-B onto GALAC.
- To evaluate the economic viability of GALAC as an adsorbent compared to commercial alternatives.
Main Methods:
- Chemical preparation of activated carbon from Gmelina aborea leaves (GALAC).
- Characterization using SEM, FTIR, pH point of zero charge (pHpzc), and Boehm Titration (BT).
- Adsorption studies involving varying pH, contact time, initial concentration, and temperature; isotherm and kinetic modeling (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, D-R, PFO, PSO, Elovich, Intraparticle diffusion).
Main Results:
- GALAC exhibited excellent Rh-B adsorption, best described by the Langmuir isotherm model (maximum monolayer coverage: 1000 mg/g).
- Adsorption kinetics followed the Pseudo-second-order (PSO) model, indicating chemisorption.
- Thermodynamic analysis revealed spontaneous and endothermic adsorption (ΔG°: -22.71 to -18.19 kJ/mol).
- EDX analysis confirmed high carbon content (82.81% by weight) in GALAC.
- GALAC is approximately 11 times cheaper than commercial activated carbon (CAC), offering significant cost savings.
Conclusions:
- Chemically treated Gmelina aborea leaves yield an effective and economical activated carbon (GALAC) for Rhodamine B dye removal.
- The adsorption process is spontaneous, endothermic, and follows Langmuir and PSO models, suggesting chemisorption mechanisms.
- GALAC presents a sustainable and cost-efficient alternative for treating dye-contaminated wastewater.
