Removal of Erythrosine B using Prosopisspicigera L. wood carbon-iron oxide composite

Abstract

The present study investigates the removal of Erythrosine B (EB), a neurotoxin and carcinogenic dye from aqueous system using Prosopisspicigera L. wood (PsLw) carbon-iron oxide composite. The adsorbent is well characterized by Fourier Transform Infra Red spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for surface morphology, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller nitrogen adsorption method (BET)/methylene blue method for surface area determination and potentiometric methods for surface charge (pH_zpc) determination. The removal capacity of the adsorbent has been evaluated by batch method under varying pH, contact time, adsorbate initial concentrations, and in the presence of other ions. The Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity is found to be 487.8 mg/g at pH = 2.0 for an initial concentration of 250 mg/L. The adsorption follows pseudo second order kinetics and fits to Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption is thermodynamically spontaneous and exothermic in nature. Pore diffusion and mass transfer studies are performed. Column mode analysis is applied in the process for industrial applications.