Adsorption of methylene blue on mesoporous carbons prepared using acid- and alkaline-treated zeolite X as the template

Adsorption isotherms and kinetics of methylene blue (MB) onto mesoporous carbons prepared by using acid- and alkaline-treated zeolite X as the template and furfuryl alcohol as carbon source through vapor-deposition polymerization method were determined. Adsorption isotherm models, Langmuir and Freundlich were used to simulate the equilibrium data of MB. It was found that equilibrium adsorption capacities of MB at 20 °C onto the carbons prepared using acid- and alkaline-treated zeolite X as the template were 223 and 380 mg/g, respectively. Adsorption isotherm data could be better described by Langmuir model than Freundlich model. Water treatment of the carbon for 2 h resulted in the increase of adsorption velocity without changing the equilibrium adsorption capacity. The adsorption capacity increased with temperature increased in the range of 20–40 °C. The adsorption kinetics of MB on mesoporous carbons could be well depicted by using pseudo-second-order kinetic model.