METHYLENE BLUE REMOVAL FROM RESIDUAL WATER USING FIR WOOD SAWDUST AS ADSORBENT

Abstract

Methylene blue is generally used as dyeing agent in textile, printing and pharmaceutical industries, which leads to the obtaining of large amounts of wastewater. The purpose of this study is to remove methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions using fir wood sawdust waste as low cost biosorbent material. In order to evaluate the adsorption process, analyses for determination of micrometric properties, infrared spectroscopy, optical microscopy and colorimetry were performed. To increase the efficiency of the process and the adsorption surface, the fir wood sawdust was grinded and sieved. Some specific parameters were varied in the experimental part in order to study the influence of the adsorbent support dose, concentration, temperature, contact time, volume and stirring rate. The removal efficiency of methylene blue dye was further studied for evaluating the adsorption capacity of the fir wood sawdust.