Comparative study on the removal of acid violet by adsorption on various low cost adsorbents

Abstract

The kinetic studies on the removal of Acid Violet-17 (AV) by adsorption on various adsorbents such as fly ash (FA), iron chromium oxide (ICO), lignite coal (LC), kapok fruit shell carbon (KC) and cashew nut shell carbon (CC) have been made and the results have been compared with that of commercial activated carbon (CAC). Effect of various experimental parameters has been investigated using batch adsorption technique at room temperature (30±1°C). The percentage removal of AV increases with decrease in the initial concentration of AV, initial pH and particle size of adsorbent and increases with increase in the contact time and dose of adsorbent. Adsorption data were modeled with the Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms and various first order kinetic equations at 30±1°C. The kinetics of adsorption is found to be first order with intra particle diffusion as one of the rate determining steps. The adsorbent materials like iron-chromium oxide (ICO), kapok fruit shell carbon (KC) and cashew nut shell carbon (CC) could be employed as low cost adsorbents as alternative materials to CAC for the removal of AV. © 2008 Global NEST Printed in Greece. All rights reserved.