The Use of Bilberry Leaves (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) as an Efficient Adsorbent for Cationic Dye Removal from Aqueous Solutions

In this study, a new lignocellulosic bioadsorbent, bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) leaves powder, was used to remove the methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions. The characterization of the adsorbent was performed by FTIR, SEM and color analysis. The influence of pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration, temperature and ionic strength on the adsorption process were followed. Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies were conducted in order to understand the adsorption process mechanism. Process optimization was performed using the Taguchi method. Sips isotherm and general order kinetic model characterize the adsorption process. The maximum adsorption capacity, 200.4 (mg g(-1)), was better compared with other similar bioadsorbents. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption process is spontaneous, favorable and endothermic and also that physisorption is involved in the process. The factor with the highest influence on the dye removal process was pH, followed by contact time, temperature, adsorbent dose, ionic strength and initial dye concentration. The obtained results revealed that the bioadsorbent material based on bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) leaves is highly efficient for cationic dyes removal from aqueous solutions.

Automated summary

In this study, a new lignocellulosic bioadsorbent derived from bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) leaves powder was utilized for the removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions. The adsorbent was characterized by FTIR, SEM, and color analysis, and several factors including pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration, temperature, and ionic strength were investigated. Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies were conducted to understand the mechanism of the adsorption process. The results showed that the bioadsorbent had a maximum adsorption capacity of 200.4 (mg g(-1)), which was higher than other similar bioadsorbents. The thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous, favorable, and endothermic, and physisorption played a role in the process. pH was found to have the greatest influence on the dye removal process, followed by contact time, temperature, adsorbent dose, ionic strength, and initial dye concentration. Overall, the bilberry-based bioadsorbent showed high efficiency in removing cationic dyes from aqueous solutions.