ADSORPTIVE REMOVAL OF METHYL VIOLET FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION ON ACID-ACTIVATED CARBON DERIVED FROM GMELINA ARBOREA BARK IN A FIXED BED COLUMN

Abstract

Phosphoric acid-activated carbon was prepared from Gmelina arborea bark. The carbon was used to remove methyl violet from aqueous solution by sorption in a fixed bed column. The aim was to evaluate the potential of such carbon derived from agricultural waste in commercial wastewater treatment. The effects of inlet solution concentration, bed mass and flow rate on the equilibrium bed capacity was investigated. Maximum experimental bed capacity obtained was 81.837 mg/g while maximum theoretical bed capacity determined through the Yoon-Nelson model was 1070.93 mg/g. Breakthrough points were not reached for all inlet concentrations within 360 min. Clark, Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models were good fits for experimental data. The process was nonspontaneous and physisorptive. Results show that Gmelina arborea bark is a good precursor for activated carbon production. Keywords: Activated carbon, fixed-bed adsorption, methyl violet, modeling.