Study on the adsorption kinetics of acid red 3B on expanded graphite

Abstract

Expanded graphite (EG) is a kind of important adsorbent for organic compound such as oil and dyes. We have investigated the adsorption kinetics characteristics of this adsorbent for dye. EG was prepared with 50 mesh crude graphite through chemical oxidation intercalation of potassium permanganate and vitriol, and dye of acid red 3B was used as model sorbate. We have studied the adsorption kinetic models and rate-limiting step of the process. Adsorption rate and activation energy of the adsorption process were calculated. Kinetic studies show that the kinetic data are well described by the pseudo second-order kinetic model. The equilibrium adsorbance increases with the increase of the initial acid red 3B concentration. Initial adsorption rate increases with the increase of the initial dye concentration and temperature. Adsorption process of acid red 3B on EG has small activation energy. Internal diffusion appears to be the rate-limiting step for the adsorption process.