Biosorption of methylene blue using agro-industrial residues

This study evaluated the ability of adsorption of methylene blue dye in waste of corn straw and sheath of palmetto pupunha in natura. The characterization of the waste was performed using MEV and spectroscopy in the infrared region, which indicated the presence of carboxyl groups, hydroxyl and carbonyl. The time required for the system to reach equilibrium for both residues was approximately 240 min, following the kinetics of pseudo-second order. The maximum adsorption capacity was 102.8 mg g(-1) for corn straw, following the isotherm model of Langmuir and 50.9 mg g(-1) for the residue of the sheath of palmetto pupunha, following the isotherm model of Freundlich. Thus, the wastes are promising for adsorption of methylene blue dye in effluents.