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Adsorption of a cationic dye (methylene blue) by Iranian natural clays from aqueous solutions: equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic study

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Abstract

Removal of dyes by low-cost adsorbents is an effective method in wastewater treatment. Iranian natural clays were determined to be effective adsorbents for removal of a basic dye (methylene blue) from aqueous solutions in batch processes. Characterizations of the clays were carried out by X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Effects of the operational parameters such as adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, solution pH and temperature were investigated on the adsorption performance. Adsorption isotherms like Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin were used to analyze the adsorption equilibrium data and Langmuir isotherm was the best fit. Adsorption kinetics was investigated by pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models and the results showed that the adsorption system conforms well to the pseudo-second-order model. The thermodynamic parameters of adsorption (ΔS°, ΔH° and ΔG°) were obtained and showed that the adsorption processes were exothermic.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the University of Tabriz (Iran) for the support provided.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, 51666-16471, Iran

    Hassan Aghdasinia & Hossein Rahbari Asiabi

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  1. Hassan Aghdasinia
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  2. Hossein Rahbari Asiabi
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Correspondence to Hassan Aghdasinia.

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Aghdasinia, H., Asiabi, H.R. Adsorption of a cationic dye (methylene blue) by Iranian natural clays from aqueous solutions: equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic study. Environ Earth Sci 77, 218 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7342-5

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