Activated Charcoal/Alginate Nanocomposite Beads for Efficient Adsorption of the Cationic Dye Methylene Blue: Kinetics and Equilibrium

Novel adsorbent composite beads based on sodium alginate/Activated charcoal (SA/AC) were prepared. The beads were characterized using a variety of instruments, including a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The adsorption capacity of the beads was investigated using batch adsorption studies. This study investigated the influence of several parameters, including the initial pH of the MB solution, the contact time, the initial concentration of the MB, and the temperature of the MB solution. Methylene blue (MB) was effectively adsorbing on sodium alginate/activated charcoal beads after 60 min. The adsorption process was fitted with a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, yielding maximum adsorption capacities of 555 mg/g in mildly alkaline solutions SA/Ac beads were development to be capable of regenerating the MB up to four times without compromising their adsorption efficiency. The SA/AC beads were found to be excellent adsorbents for organic contaminants in wastewater in this investigation.