Dye Removal from Aqueous Solution using Adsorption on Modified Coconut Shell

Abstract

This work presents a novel adsorbent consisting of coconut shell carbon was investigated for its efficiency in the removal of dye, namely methyl orange, from aqueous solution. Coconut shell was used to prepare activated carbon by physiochemical activation with phosphoric acid as the activating at 600 C. Characterization includes ash and fixed carbon contents, pH and moisture of the adsorbents were also investigated. The adsorption studies of adsorbents were done using batch method. The effect of process parameters like adsorbent dose, pH, contact time and initial of concentration on the extent of methyl orange adsorption from solution has been investigated. Optimum conditions for methyl orange removal was found to be adsorbent dose 0.2 g, pH value 3.0, equilibrium time 60 minutes. The isotherm of methyl orange adsorption of the coconut shell-based activated carbon is tend to be Freundlich isotherm (R2 = 0.9993), which indicated that the multilayer adsorption has occurred at specific sites within the adsorbent.