Remediation of Crystal Violet Dye Aqueous Solution Using Agro Waste Based Activated Carbon: Equilibrium and Kinetics Studies

Remediation of crystal violet (CV) dye aqueous solution was attempted using acid activated raphia hookeri seeds (AARHS) as adsorbent. Adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of CV dye uptake onto AARHS were examined in series of experimental runs, and effects of contact time and initial CV dye concentrations were investigated at different solution temperatures (303 K, 313 K and 323 K). Equilibrium and kinetic data modeling of the adsorption process was performed using selected theoretical methods. Four different forms of Langmuir (type I, II, III and IV) and Freundlich isotherms were considered for fitting the equilibrium data while zero order, first order, pseudo-first order (PFO), second order, types I, II, III and IV pseudo-second order (PSO) and intra-particle diffusion models were selected to describe the kinetics of the adsorption process. Error functions including coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), chi square (χ2) and average relative error (ARE) were employed to reveal model of best fit. Results obtained from error value computations show that the equilibrium data best followed Freundlich isotherm, which indicates multilayer adsorption of CV dye onto AARHS. The calculated Freundlich’s adsorption intensity values at different temperatures reveal the favourability of the adsorption process. PSO type I, II and IV best fitted the kinetic data compared to other investigated models. Intra-particle diffusion plots depict that the adsorption process of CV dye onto AARHS is a two-step process and also, intra-particle diffusion is not the only rate-limiting step.