Adsorptive Removal of Textile Dyes from Aqueous Solution by Coconut Coir Carbon

Activated carbon prepared from coconut coir was investigated in terms of its efficiency
to adsorb textile dyes from aqueous solution and compared with that of a commercial
charcoal activated carbon. The adsorbates used in this study were acid dyes, Acid Red
and Acid Orange 7, which are commonly used in textile dyeing. The characteristics of
the prepared coconut coir activated carbon such as pll and ash content were analyzed.
Parameters such as initial dye concentration and contact time. pll and carbon dose that
affect adsorptive removal of dye was studied in batch adsorption study. From the batch
studies conducted, higher adsorption was seen for lower concentration of dyes and
percentage removal increased with increasing contact time for both the coconut coir
carbon and a commercial activated carbon. Maximum color removal was observed at plf
3. As the carbon dose increased, the percentage of dye removal also increased.
Adsorption isotherm data fitted well to Freundlich and l. angmuir isotherm models.
According to the Freundlich isotherm, coconut coir activated carbon has higher
adsorption capacity and lower adsorption intensity for the acid dyes compared to the
charcoal activated carbon. According to l. angmuir isotherm, the coconut coir activated
carbon has appreciable adsorption capacity but lower adsorption energy for the acid dyes
compared to the charcoal activated carbon.