Adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution on high lime fly ash: Kinetic, equilibrium, and thermodynamic studies

Abstract

Kinetic, equilibrium, and thermodynamic studies were performed for the batch adsorption of methylene blue (MB) on the high lime fly ash as a low cost adsorbent material. The studied operating variables were adsorbent amount, contact time, dye concentration, and temperature. The kinetic data were analyzed using the pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order kinetic models and the adsorption kinetic was followed well by the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The equilibrium data were fitted with the Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin Radushkevich (D-R) isotherms and the equilibrium data were found to be well represented by the Freundlich and D-R isotherms. Based on these two isotherms MB is taken by chemical ion exchange and active sites on the high lime fly ash have different affinities to MB molecules. Various thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy of adsorption (ΔH°), free energy change (ΔG°), and entropy change (ΔS°) were investigated. The positive value of ΔH° and negative value of ΔG° indicate that the adsorption is endothermic and spontaneous. The positive value of ΔS° shows the increased randomness at the solid-liquid interface during the adsorption. A single-stage batch adsorber was also designed based on the Freundlich isotherm for the removal of MB by the high lime fly ash. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.