Adsorption behavior of cationic dyes on citric acid esterifying wheat straw: kinetic and thermodynamic profile

The kinetic and thermodynamic behaviors of cationic dye adsorption onto citric acid esterifying wheat straw (EWS) from aqueous solution were investigated. Two cationic dyes, methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV) were selected as adsorbates. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of dye adsorption were examined with a batch system by changing various experimental factors (e.g. initial pH, EWS dosage, dye concentration, contact time, temperature). The MB and CV removal ratios came up to the maximum value beyond pH 4. The 2.0 g/L group of EWS could almost completely remove MB and CV from 250 mg/L of dye solution. The adsorption percentages of MB and CV kept above 95% over a range from 50 to 350 mg/L of dye concentration when 2.0 g/L of EWS was used. The isothermal data followed the Langmuir model. The adsorption processes could be described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The dual linear plots of intraparticle diffusion indicated that two intraparticle diffusion steps occurred in the dye adsorption processes. The thermodynamic study indicated that the adsorptions of dyes were spontaneous and endothermic. High temperatures favored the adsorption processes.