Removal of malachite green from aqueous solution by activated carbon developed from cocoa (Theobroma Cacao) shell - A kinetic and equilibrium studies

Abstract

The removal of malachite green (MG) by cocoa (Theobroma cacao) shell activated carbon (CSAC) was investigated in present study. Adsorption studies were performed by batch experiments as a function of process parameters such as initial pH, contact time, initial concentration and adsorbent dose. A comparison of kinetic models applied to the adsorption of MG on CSAC was evaluated for the pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order kinetic models. Results showed that the pseudo-second order kinetic model was found to correlate the experimental data well. The experimental equilibrium adsorption data was represented with Langmuir, Freundlich, Tempkin, Dubinin- Radushkevich and Flory-Huggins isotherms. The experimental data obtained in the present study indicated that activated carbon developed from cocoa shell can be attractive options for dye removal from waste water.