ADSORPTION OF TURQUOISE BLUE QG REACTIVE DYE ON COMMERCIAL ACTIVATED CARBON IN BATCH REACTOR: KINETIC AND EQUILIBRIUM STUDIES

The adsorption of reactive turquoise blue QG dye on commercial activated carbon was investigated in a batch reactor to obtain isotherm and kinetic data under different experimental conditions. The adsorbent was characterized by a FTIR method to analyze surface area and pH(PZC) and to identify functional groups. Experiments were conducted to obtain equilibrium data at 30 degrees C, with the pH effect being assayed in the range of 2 to 8. Experiments were then carried out under the optimal pH condition for dye removal to obtain equilibrium data at 30 degrees C, 45 degrees C and 60 degrees C. Adsorption isotherm models were used to correlate the equilibrium data. Maximum dye removal capacity was observed at a pH of 2 and temperature of 30 degrees C. The kinetic experiments were carried out at a pH of 2 and at three different temperatures: 30 degrees C, 45 degrees C and 60 degrees C. Pseudo-second-order models were used to describe the kinetics of dye adsorption.