Abstract

The efficiency of acid activated fruits of Prosopis Spicigera (SAPS) was tested in removing the basic dye, Crystal violet, from aqueous solution. The batch adsorption experiments were conducted to understand the effects of various operating parameters like initial dye concentration, contact time, adsorbent dose, pH, particle size and temperature. The adsorbent was characterized by SEM. Kinetic studies indicate that the adsorption was pseudo second order process which was supported by Elovich equation indicating possible chemisorption. The equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm and intraparticle diffusion models. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity was 78.98 mg/g at 25-C (at room temperature). Thermodynamic parameters indicate that adsorption process to be endothermic and spontaneous with randomness at the solute-solution interface.It can be concluded that this low cost and effective adsorbent may provide an alternative to commercial activated carbon for the removal of Crystal violet from wastewaters.

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