Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies of anionic dyes adsorption on corn stalks modified by cetylpyridinium bromide

Abstract

Corn stalks (CS) were modified by a cationic surfactant, cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB), and used as an adsorbent (CS-CP) to remove anionic dyes [Acid Red (AR) and Acid Orange (AO)] from aqueous solutions. The FTIR analysis and the obtained calculations based on the determination of the adsorption capacity of CS towards CPB confirmed that the cationic surfactant had been adsorbed on the surface of corn stalks. Adsorption of the anionic dyes on modified corn stalks was investigated in a series of batch adsorption experiments at 303-328 K. The adsorption data were analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models. The Langmuir model was found to be more suitable for the experimental data of the anionic dyes on CS-CP than other adsorption models. Kinetic studies revealed that the pseudo-second order model showed the best fit to the experimental data. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic. Mechanisms involving ion exchange and chemisorption might be responsible for the uptake of the anionic dyes on CS-CP. Obtained results imply that CS-CP could be applied as an effective adsorbent to remove anionic dyes from aqueous solutions.