Removal of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solution: An Approach of Environmental Friendly Activated Carbon

Abstract

Methylene blue (MB) dye was adsorbed on an adsorbent prepared from cashew nut shell. A batch adsorption study was carried out with variable adsorbent amount, initial dye concentration and contact time. Studies showed that as the contact time increases relatively there will be an increase in the removal of methylene blue from the aqueous solution. There was also a comparative increase in the removal of dye with the increase in dosage of adsorbent. As the concentration of MB dye increased the percentage of removal of MB from the aqueous solution decreased for a given particular dosage. The results indicate that cashew nut shell activated carbon could be employed as a low-cost alternative to commercial activated carbon in the removal of dyes from wastewater. This work offers an economic incentive to the industrial practice for waste management and eco-friendly approach for removal of toxic dyes from textile waste water.