Removal of indigo carmine (IC) in aqueous solution onto activated pomegranate peel (APP) by adsorption process: Kinetic and thermodynamic studies

The adsorption of indigo carmine dye onto Activated Pomegranate Peels (APP) from aqueous solutions was followed in a batch system. The adsorbent was characterized by the BET method (specific surface area SBET: 51.0674 m2/g) and point of zero charge (pHpz = 5.2). However, some examined factors were found to have significant impacts on the adsorption capacity of pomegranate peels (APP) such as the initial dye concentration (10–60 mg/L), solution pH (2–12), adsorbent dose (1–10 g/L), agitation speed (100–600 rpm), and temperature (298–308 K). The best adsorption capacity was found at pH 2 with an adsorbent dose 1 g/L, an agitation speed 300 rpm and a contact time of 45 min. The adsorption mechanism of IC onto (APP) was studied by using the first-pseudo order, second-pseudo order, Elovich, and Webber-Morris diffusion models. The adsorptions kinetic were found to follow rather a pseudo-second order kinetic model with a determination coefficient (R2) of 0.999. The equilibrium adsorption data for IC onto (APP) were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich, Elovich, and Temkin models. The results indicate that the Langmuir model provides the best correlation with capacities (qmax of 158.73 mg/g at 298 K). The adsorption isotherms at different temperatures have been used for the determination of thermodynamic parameters like the free energy; enthalpy and entropy to predict the nature of adsorption process. The negative values ΔG° and ΔH° indicate that the overall adsorption is spontaneous and exothermic with a physisorption process. The adsorbent elaborated from pomegranate peels material was found to very effective and suitable for the removal of reactive dyes from aqueous solutions, due to its availability, low cost preparation, and good adsorption capacity.