Removal of methyl orange from aqueous solution via adsorption on cork as a natural and low-coast adsorbent: equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic study of removal process

AbstractIn this study, the cork powder was used as adsorbent to remove methyl orange (MO) from aqueous solutions by adsorption. Batch experiments were conducted to study the effect of reaction parameters on the adsorption of the dye such as: contact time, initial concentrations of solution, adsorbent dosage, solution pH, and temperature; consequently, optimum condition of adsorption was obtained. The surface properties and structure of cork were measured by some techniques including: Scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, point of zero charge, and Boehm titration method. Adsorption capacity of cork for MO is 16.66 mg g−1 at 298 K under the optimum condition of pH of 2, cork dosage of 5.00 g l−1, particle size of d<0.08 mm, and contact time of 240 min. The kinetic data obtained from different experiments were analyzed using three kinetic models namely pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich kinetics models. Among the kinetics models studied, the pseudo-second-or...