Sustainable Methylene Blue dye removal with activated carbon from Prosopis juliflora stem.

Abstract

This study addresses the environmental challenge posed by the invasive Prosopis juliflora plant by converting its stem into activated carbon for the adsorption of Methylene Blue dye from water. The goal is to create an effective and sustainable wastewater treatment solution. Prosopis juliflora stems were harvested, cleaned, dried, carbonized, and activated with zinc chloride to create Prosopis Juliflora Stem Activated Carbon. This activated carbon was characterized using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope imaging. Results revealed a significant surface area of 158.107 m²/g and the presence of functional groups essential for adsorption processes. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to determine the efficiency of activated carbon in removing Methylene Blue dye at various dosages and contact times. The highest adsorption efficiencies were 73.5% at 80 min, 90.1% at 60 min, and 90.65% at 50 min for dosages of 80, 100, and 120 mg, respectively. These findings show that Prosopis Juliflora Stem Activated Carbon is highly effective at removing Methylene Blue dye, providing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of wastewater treatment.