Adsorption kinetics and mechanism of cationic methyl violet and methylene blue dyes onto sepiolite

The use of low-cost and ecofriendly adsorbents was investigated as an ideal alternative to the current expensive methods of removing dyes from wastewater. Sepiolite was used as an adsorbent for the removal of methyl violet (MV) and methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. The rate of adsorption was investigated under various parameters such as contact time, stirring speed, ionic strength, pH and temperature for the removal of these dyes. Kinetic study showed that the adsorption of dyes on sepiolite was a gradual process. Quasi-equilibrium reached within 3 h. Adsorption rate increased with the increase in ionic strength, pH and temperature. Pseudo-first-order, the Elvoich equation, pseudo-second-order, mass transfer and intra-particle diffusion models were used to fit the experimental data. The sorption kinetics of MV and MB onto sepiolite was described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation. Intra-particle diffusion process was identified as the main mechanism controlling the rate of the dye sorption. The diffusion coefficient, D, was found to increase when the ionic strength, pH and temperature were raised. Thermodynamic activation parameters such as ΔG∗, ΔS∗ and ΔH∗ were also calculated.