Recent developments in preparation of activated carbons by microwave: Study of residual errors

The application of microwave activated Acacia nilotica leaves (MVM) and chemically activated A. nilotica leaves (CVM) for the removal of crystal violet (CV) from aqueous solution was studied in a batch system. Equilibrium sorption isotherms and kinetics were investigated. The applicability of the Langmuir model for CV onto CVM and MVM was proved by the high correlation coefficient and non-linear regression such as, residual root mean square error (RMSE), chi-square (chi(2)), sum of the square of the errors (ERRSQ), composite functional error (HYBRD), derivative of Marquardt's percent standard deviation (MPSD), average relative error (ARE), sum of absolute error (EABS) and average percentage error (APE). The adsorption of CV onto CVM and MVM follows pseudo-second-order kinetic model with intraparticle diffusion is one of the rate-limiting steps. The adsorption capacity of MVM is greater than CVM. The preparation of MVM is agreeing with the principles of green chemistry. Therefore, the eco friendly adsorbent MVM is expected to be the environmentally and the economically feasible adsorbent for the removal of CV from aqueous solution. (C) 2011 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.