Role of tapioca peel activated carbon (TPAC) in decolourisation of Red Brown C4R reactive dye

Abstract

A carbon sorbent derived from an agricultural waste, tapioca peel was applied to study the removal of a reactive dye, Red Brown C4R from aqueous solution. Batch experiments were performed as a function of process parameters like agitation time, initial dye concentration and carbon dose. Modified Ritchie second order equation better predicted the kinetic results compared to other rate equations (pseudo first order & pseudo second order) tested. Among the isotherm models applied to the equilibrium data Freundlich model better predicted the experimental values. The adsorption capacity was 121.47 mg g-1 at an initial pH of 6 and at 32±0.5°C. The adsorption capacity increased with increase in temperature. The influence of pH on dye removal was not significant. An optimum carbon dose of 1.2 g L-1 was required for the maximum removal (96%) of dye from its 60 mg L-1 solution.