Preparation And Characterization Of Microwave-Modified Adsorbents From Casuarina Equisetifolia Seeds For Dye Adsorption Application

Abstract

Nowadays, numerous approaches have been focused for the development of cheaper, effective and environment friendly adsorbents as alternatives to replace activated carbon and other adsorbents. In this study, raw Casuariana equisetifolia seeds and p- toluene sulfonic acid as well as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treated seeds with and without microwave treatment were used as adsorbents for the malachite green (MG) and neutral red (NR) dye removal. The treated adsorbents were prepared by soaking the seeds in the p-toluene sulfonic acid and NaOH. The microwave-modified adsorbents were prepared by treating the seeds in the microwave oven with the frequency of 2.34 GHz, 800 W and 8 min irradiation time before the seeds were treated with the p-toluene sulfonic acid and NaOH. The adsorbents were characterized based on the chemical characteristic, physical characteristics and surface morphological. The batch adsorption experiments were performed for the removal of MG and NR dyes. The results reveal that microwave-acid-alkali treated C. equisetifolia seeds have the lowest ethanol-toluene solubility and hot water solubility that determine the quantity of extraneous materials compared raw and acid-alkali treated seeds. The lowest value of extraneous materials led to increase the active surface of adsorbent