Removal of a cationic dye from wastewater during purification by Phoenix dactylifera

The activated carbon prepared from Phoenix dactylifera fruit stones was tested for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solutions. Batch studies were carried out to evaluate the impacts of initial solution pH (2–12), chemically activated carbon (CAC) concentration (0.25–5 g/L), MB concentration (50–400 mg/L), and contact time (20–430 min) on the adsorption of MB onto CAC. Results showed that the adsorption of MB was favorable at neutral pH. The results demonstrated that the Langmuir isotherm model best represented the equilibrium data with a maximum MB adsorption capacity of 478.32 mg/g. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model was found to adequately describe the adsorption process. The calculated thermodynamic parameters showed that adsorption process was spontaneous endothermic and physisorption was possible under examined conditions. In the final part of the study, the efficacy of CAC was examined by analyzing the removal of dye from industrial wastewater.