Optimization of Methylene Blue Adsorption onto Activated Carbon derived from Pineapple Peel Waste using Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

This study focuses on the optimization of methylene blue (MB) adsorption onto activated carbon derived from pineapple peel waste (ACPPW) using response surface methodology (RSM). The activated carbon was synthesized via a chemical activation method and characterized using FTIR spectroscopy. The adsorption process was optimized by investigating the effects of three key parameters: adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, and contact time. A Central Composite Design (CCD) with 20 runs was employed, and ANOVA was performed to determine the significance of each parameter. The central composite design (CCD) was employed to determine the effect of three independent variables, namely adsorbent dosage (X1), initial MB concentration (X2), and contact time (X3), on the response variable, MB removal efficiency (Y). The optimal conditions for achieving a high adsorption capacity of 98.19 % for methylene blue dye were determined to be an adsorbent dosage of 400 mg/L, an initial dye concentration of 15 mg/L, and a contact time of 12 minutes. The regression equation achieved a high R2 value of 0.9883, indicating a good fit for the experimental data and the model's reliability. These findings provide valuable insights into efficiently utilizing pineapple peel waste as a sustainable source for producing activated carbon with excellent adsorption capabilities for dye removal, thus contributing to environmental sustainability and waste management efforts.