Abstract:
urrently the presence of dyes in the aquatic systems has become a serious environmental
problem. Thus the use of low-cost and eco-friendly adsorbents has been investigated as an ideal
alternative to the current expensive methods of removing dyes from wastewater. This study
explores the feasibility of Activated white lupine husk (AWLH), an agricultural waste, for
removal of synthetic dye from aqueous solution. Batch biosorption experiments were carried out
for the biosorption of Methylene Blue( MB) dye molecule from aqueous solution onto the AWLH
adsorbent at constant room temperature and agitation speed of 150rpm.The effects of diverse
process parameters like solution pH, biosorbent dosage, contact time and initial concentration
were studied in batch adsorption. UV-Vis spectrophotometer technique was used for the
measurement of concentration of dye before and after adsorption.
The experimental equilibrium adsorption data have been investigated by using Langmuir and
Freundlich models. The optimum solution pH, initial dye concentration, biosorbent dose and
contact time on the MB dye removal efficiency of the biosorbent was found to be 8.0, 20
mg/l,0.15g and 120min respectively for batch biosorption studies. At these experimental
conditions the removal efficiency of MB dye using AWLH adsorbent was found to be 93%. The
adsorption experimental data better fitting with Langmuir isotherm model and the maximum
adsorption capacity of the AWLH was found to be 10.75mg/g .The kinetic study shown that the
biosorption process in the current study conformed pseudo second order model mechanism.
Generally, the experimental results indicated that white lupine husk has a potential to be used
as an activated carbon for treatment of Methylene Blue dye containing waste water
