Removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution by using orange peel treated with acid as an adsorbent

A vast amount of dye effluent is continually released into the water, posing a significant hazard to the natural environment and human health. This study aims to investigate the adsorption of methylene blue from an aqueous solution using orange peel as activated carbon. To comprehend the adsorption behavior, the influences of adsorbent dose (0.1-0.8 g), starting dye concentration (10-80 mg/L), and contact duration (10-80 min) were investigated. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to recognize the functional group in orange peel. A non-linear pseudo-first-order reaction could describe the adsorption process. The process was best fitted with the Langmuir isotherm than the Freundlich isotherm. The results obtained were a high level of color removal achieved within a short time which was 50 min, and orange peel held as a potential low-cost adsorbent for dye removal from industrial wastewater.

Automated summary

In this study, orange peel was used as a low-cost adsorbent for the adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution. The results showed that a high level of color removal from dye wastewater could be achieved within a short time using orange peel as an adsorbent, suggesting its potential application in industrial wastewater treatment.