African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12486

Full Length Research Paper

Adsorption of a cationic dye by Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) fruit seed shell based biosorbent: Equilibrium and kinetic studies

Mupa Mathew
  • Mupa Mathew
  • Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Bindura University of Science Education, Private Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe.
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Mautsi Musharu Phineas
  • Mautsi Musharu Phineas
  • Department of Mathematics and Science, Faculty of Science Education, Bindura University of Science Education, Private Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe.
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Gwizangwe Isaac
  • Gwizangwe Isaac
  • Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Bindura University of Science Education, Private Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe.
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  •  Received: 13 December 2016
  •  Accepted: 21 September 2017
  •  Published: 04 October 2017

Abstract

Adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution using a low cost Sclerocarya birrea fruit shell powder based biosorbent was investigated in a batch system. Results showed that optimum adsorption capacity was achieved at pH 8 and biosorbent dosage of 0.6 g, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 27.690 mg g-1. Equilibrium studies showed that experimental data fitted well on the Temkin isotherm (R2 = 0.9641), as well as the Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 0.9626). The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second order rate kinetics with R2 values greater than 0.999. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectrum showed the presence of absorption bands typical of a plant based biomaterial. Given the abundant availability of the S. birrea trees in Southern Africa, the seed fruit shell can be used as a source of low cost biosorbent.

 

Key words: Biosorption, Langmuir, methylene blue, Sclerocarya birrea fruit, Temkin.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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