Textile sludge-sawdust chemically produced activated carbon: equilibrium and dynamics studies of malachite green adsorption

Textile sludge-sawdust chemically produced activated carbon (SSAC) was used in equilibrium and dynamics adsorption of malachite green (MG). The effects of concentration in equilibrium, and influent flow rate (15-30 mL/min), initial concentration (20-80 mg/L) and bed height (2-6 cm) in dynamics mode were investigated. SSAC with surface area of 979 m(2)/g shows an outstanding maximum capacity of malachite green at 530 mg/g. In adsorption dynamics, the breakthrough time and bed capacity increased with increasing bed height, and decreasing flow rate and influent dye concentration. Bohart-Adams, Thomas, Yoon-Nelson and Clark models were applied to describe the column breakthrough, dynamics behaviour and adsorption mechanisms. The breakthrough curves were best fitted by Yoon-Nelson model at the experimental conditions. The maximum bed capacity was reported to be 565 mg/g. SSAC is an effective adsorbent for MG removal from aqueous phase.