Adsorption studies of methylene blue and gentian violet on sugarcane bagasse modified with EDTA dianhydride (EDTAD) in aqueous solutions: Kinetic and equilibrium aspects

In this study the adsorption of cationic dyes by modified sugarcane bagasse with EDTA dianhydride (EB) was examined using methylene blue (MB) and gentian violet (GV) as model compounds in aqueous single solutions. The synthesized adsorbent (EB) was characterized by FTIR, elemental analysis, and BET. The capacity of EB to adsorb dyes was evaluated at different contact times, pH values, and initial dye concentrations. According to the obtained results, the adsorption processes could be described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption isotherms were well fitted by the Langmuir model. Maximum adsorption capacities for MB and GV on EB were found to be 202.43 and 327.83 mg/g, respectively. The free energy change during adsorption of MB and GV was found to be −22.50 and −24.21 kJ/mol, respectively, suggesting that chemisorption is the main mechanism controlling the adsorption process.

► Modified sugarcane bagasse has been shown to be very efficient to remove MB and GV.
► Equilibrium adsorption data fit the Langmuir model.
►  Maximum adsorption capacities for MB and GV were 202.43 and 327.87 mg/g, respectively.
► Both adsorption processes are well described by pseudo-second-order model.