Department of Chemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Nigeria
Oladoja, N.A., Department of Chemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Nigeria; Aboluwoye, C.O., Department of Chemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Nigeria; Akinkugbe, A.O., Department of Chemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Nigeria
The hard fibrovascular network of the fruit of Luffa cylindrica, loofah, was used in a batch sorption system to remove methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. The effects of pH on the sorption of MB by loofah were studied using equilibrium isotherm experiment. The Langmuir sorption capacity (qm, mg/g) of the loofah increased with increase in pH. The Freundlich isotherm models favored the prediction of the theoretical sorption capacity more than the Langmuir isotherm models. The kinetics of the sorption process was studied at varying initial MB concentrations using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. The pseudosecond-order kinetic model was found to fit the experimental data for the entire sorption period with high coefficient of determination (r2). The prospects of regenerating the loofah was studied using four different eluting solvents in batch desorption studies. The results of the batch desorption studies showed that both chemisorption and ion-exchange played prominent role in the sorption process. The elution curve obtained from the continuous desorption studies showed that the elution rate was very fast and high elution efficiency could be obtained with 0.1 M HCl as an eluting solvent. The IR analysis confirmed the presence of polar functional groups and established interactions between the MB molecules and these functional groups. © 2009 American Chemical Society.
Aqueous solutions; Aqueous systems; Basic dyes; Batch sorptions; Coefficient of determinations; Desorption studies; Elution curves; Equilibrium isotherms; Experimental datum; Freundlich isotherm models; Ir analysis; Langmuir isotherm models; Langmuir sorptions; Luffa cylindrica; Methylene blues; Polar functional groups; Pseudo first orders; Pseudo-second-order kinetic models; Sorption capacities; Sorption process; Adsorption isotherms; Chemisorption; Desorption; Dyes; Functional groups; Ion exchange; Kinetic theory; pH effects