Removal of Selected Basic Dyes using Activated Carbon from Tannery Wastes

Activated carbon prepared from tannery leather waste (TLW-AC) has been studied for its efficiency of removal of basic dyes, namely rhodamine B (RB), methylene blue (MB), and malachite green (MG) from aqueous solutions. Factors influencing dye adsorption such as the concentration of dye, pH, contact time, and temperature were investigated. The adsorption was found to be strongly dependent on the pH and temperature. The maximum sorption capacity of RB was obtained at pH 3 and for MB and MG was obtained at pH 11. Various thermodynamic parameters such as G degrees, H degrees, and S degrees were calculated. The kinetic studies reveal that the adsorption process follows the pseudo second-order kinetic model. The equilibrium data have been well-described by the Langmuir and Freundlich models, and the data fitted well in both model equations. The study revealed that wastes from leather industry is an economically viable option for dye removal.