Adsorption of Methylene Blue onto Carbon/Cobalt Ferrite/Alginate Beads and Acid Modified Rice Husks

Abstract

Wastewater from the textile industry can contain nonbiodegradable dye molecules, such as methylene blue, that are harmful to the environment. Adsorption has been determined to be effective for removing these dye molecules from textile effluent. Various adsorbents have been studied, including activated carbon compounds and biomasses such as rice husks. However, the use of activated carbon alone is expensive and the use of untreated rice husks is inefficient. Both types of adsorbent were modified in effort to increase adsorption efficiency and decrease cost. Activated carbon was combined with cobalt ferrite and sodium alginate to create magnetic composite beads. Rice husks left over from agricultural production were modified using oxalic acid. The adsorption capacities of both adsorbents were studied using solutions of methylene blue at varying initial dye concentrations, contact time, and temperature in order to determine the effectiveness of the modifications.