Adsorption of malachite green onto bentonite: Equilibrium and kinetic studies and process design

The adsorption of malachite green onto bentonite in a batch adsorber has been studied. The effects of contact time, initial pH and initial dye concentration on the malachite green adsorption by the bentonite have been studied. Malachite green removal was seen to increase with increasing contact time until equilibrium and initial dye concentration, and the adsorption capacity of bentonite was independent of initial pH in the range 3–11. Four kinetic models, the pseudo first- and second-order equations, the Elovich equation and the intraparticle diffusion equation, were selected to follow the adsorption process. Kinetic parameters; rate constants, equilibrium adsorption capacities and correlation coefficients, for each kinetic equation were calculated and discussed. It was shown that the adsorption of malachite green onto bentonite could be described by the pseudo second-order equation. The experimental isotherm data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich equations. Adsorption of malachite green onto bentonite followed the Langmuir isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters, such as ΔH∘, ΔS∘ and ΔG∘, were also determined and evaluated. A single stage batch adsorber was designed for different adsorbent mass/treated effluent volume ratios using the Langmuir isotherm.