Cationic dye biosorption from aqueous solution using sunflower tray and process optimization

In recent years, the level of water resources around the world has been decreasing due to global warming, climate change and increasing consumption. In addition, the developing industry pollutes existing water resources. This situation negatively affects all living things on earth. In this study, the biosorption process of cationic dye methylene blue (MB), which was selected as a model dye compound from residual water, and sunflower tray biosorbent was discussed. It was seen that the amorphous structure of the sunflower tray was similar to the hexagonal structure. The process parameters were investigated to reach the highest biosorption efficiency. The highest efficiency (99%) was achieved at pH 6, biosorbent dose 10 g/L, dye concentration 10 mg/L and temperature 20 °C. It was determined that the biosorption process with an exothermic reaction was compatible with the Langmuir isotherm (R² = 0.96) and the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model (R² = 0.99). q_max was calculated as 117.6 mg/g. ΔG values suggested that the interaction between the sunflower tray and MB molecules was not spontaneous.