Batch mode for adsorption of crystal violet by cedar cone forest waste

Abstract

In this work, cedar cone (CC), an abundant agricultural waste in north Algeria, was used as an adsorbent in batch mode for elimination of cationic dye crystal violet (CV) from aqueous solution. The functional groups were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The adsorption process was examined as the functions of adsorbent dose, contact time, initial CV concentration and solution pH. The isotherms adsorption were studied at different temperatures (289–318) K, the shape obtained was compatible with the “L-type” isotherm. The equilibrium data were fitted by Langmuir and Freundlich models, using non-linear regression method. The results show that equilibrium data were best fitted by Freundlich model, with good coefficient of correlation (R2 = 0.991). The adsorption processes could be described by the pseudo-second order kinetic model with R2 ≥ 0.997. The results proved that CC could be a potential abundant adsorbent for the removal of CV from aqueous solution.