Correlations between pore textures of activated carbons and Langmuir constants – case studies on methylene blue and congo red adsorption

Physiological and biomolecular interventions in the bio-decolorization of Methylene blue dye by Salvinia molesta D. Mitch

Methylene blue, a cationic dye as a pollutant is discharged from industrial effluent into aquatic bodies. The dye is biomagnified through the food chain and is detrimental to the sustainability of aquatic flora. Despite of number of physico-chemical techniques of dye removal, the use of aquatic flora for bio-adsorption is encouraged. Thus, we used Salvinia molesta D. Mitch in bio-reduction of methylene blue on concentrations of 0, 10, 20, and 30 mg L-1 through 5 days with biosorption kinetics. The dye removal was concentration-dependent, maximized at 2 days with 30 mg L-1 which altered the relative growth rate (44%) of plants. Biosorption recorded 71% capacity at optimum pH (8.0), 24 h reducing major bond energies of amide, hydroxyl groups, etc. Bioaccumulation of dye changed potassium content (446%) under maximum dye concentration modifying tissues for dye sequestration. Reactive oxygen species were altered on dye reduction by oxidase (33%) with redox homeostasis by enzymes. Plants altered the metabolism with over accumulation of polyamines (51%), abscisic acids (448%), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (83%) on dye reduction. Thus, this study is rationalized with a sustainable approach where aquatic ecosystems can be decontaminated from dye toxicity with the exercise of bioresources like Salvinia molesta D. Mitch as herein.

Coconut shell carbon via phosphoric acid activation for rhodamine B, malachite green, and methylene blue adsorption - equilibrium and kinetics

This study was aimed at evaluating the removal of different cationic dyes onto phosphoric acid-activated coconut shell carbon. The activated carbon was characterized for surface functional groups, thermal decomposition profiles, surface morphology, and textural properties. The specific area was recorded as 1,221 m2/g with 100% mesoporosity. On molecular basis, the activated carbon adsorbs malachite green, methylene blue, and rhodamine B at maximum capacities of 1.52 mmol/g, 0.80 mmol/g, and 0.58 mmol/g, respectively. It indirectly implies the selectivity of activated carbon toward malachite green, and behaves differently due to steric hindrance of dye molecules. All equilibrium data obeyed Langmuir model, while the kinetic data are closely fitted to pseudo-second order model as concentration increases. To conclude, coconut shell activated carbon is more effective to remove malachite green compared to methylene blue and rhodamine B.