Biosorption applications of lichen pseudeverniea furfuracea (L) for elimination of bezacryl red grl 180 from aqueous solution: Equilibrium and kinetic studies

Abstract

In this study, biosorption of the dye Bezacryl Red GRL 180 by two fractions of the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea L one greater than 250 μm and the other less than 250 μm, was investigated in batch system. Operating variables like biomass amount, pH, contact time, temperature, and dye concentration were explored. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses delivered information about the possible binding groups present in the lichen, as aliphatic chains, carboxylic, and sulfonate groups. The results of batch kinetic experiments were well fitted by pseudo-second-order for the two materials. Equilibrium data were well described by the Freundlich isotherms for the two fractions of our lichen. Under optimized batch conditions, up to 121.95 mg g–1 for the lower fraction and 188.68 mg g–1 for the greater than 250 μm could be removed from solution in a relatively short time. These values show that our lichen by these two fractions has better adsorption efficiency for this industrial dye.