Thermodynamics and kinetics of the removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution by raw kaolin

Remediation of contaminated water with organic dyes originated from variety of industrial processes deserves increased attention. Raw clay is an effective low-cost and eco-environmentally friendly adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from solution. This study aims to determine kinetics and thermodynamics of MB adsorption onto raw kaolin clays (halloysite and kaolinite/illite) from northeast of Morocco. The apportion capacity of the two kaolin clays to adsorb the MB dye by varying temperature and pH conditions was studied. The thermodynamic parameters show that the sorption of MB is spontaneous and endothermic for halloysite-rich clay, whereas adsorption onto kaolinite/illite is inhibited by electrostatic exothermic effects and the sorption is thermodynamically unfavorable. The kinetic study showed that the adsorption capacity of MB on halloysite is greater than on kaolinite. The intraparticle diffusion process controls the adsorption reaction, and the kinetic is more important for halloysite.