Kinetics of the adsorption of reactive dyes by chitin

The effect of initial concentration, temperature, shaking rate and pH on the adsorption of reactive yellow 2 (RY2) and reactive black 5 (RB5) by chitin (Sigma C 9213) was investigated. Experimental data obtained at different temperatures for the adsorption of each dyestuff by chitin were applied to pseudo first-order, pseudo second-order and Weber–Morris equations, and the rate constants of first-order adsorption (k1), the rate constants of second-order adsorption (k2) and pore diffusion rate constants (kp) at these temperatures were calculated, respectively. In addition, the adsorption isotherms of each dyestuff by chitin were also determined at different temperatures.