Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Optimization of a cationic dye removal by a chemically modified agriculture by-product using response surface methodology: biomasses characterization and adsorption properties

  • Process Engineering for Pollution Control and Waste Minimization
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study investigates the alkaline modification of raw orange tree sawdust (ROS) for an optimal removal of methylene blue (MB), as a cationic dye model, from synthetic solutions. The effects of operating parameters, namely, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations, ROS doses in NaOH solutions, stirring times, and initial MB concentrations on dye removal efficiency, were followed in batch mode. The process optimization was performed through the response surface methodology approach (RSM) by using Minitab17 software. The results showed that the order of importance of the followed parameters was NaOH treatment concentrations > stirring times > initial MB concentrations > ROS doses in NaOH solutions. The optimal experimental conditions ensuring the maximal MB removal efficiency was found for a NaOH treatment concentration of 0.14 M, a stirring time of 1 h, a ROS dose in NaOH solutions of 50 g L−1, and an initial MB concentration of 69.5 mg L−1. Specific analyses of the raw and alkali-treated biomasses, e.g., SEM/EDS and XRD analyses, demonstrated an important modification of the crystalline structure of the wooden material and a significant increase in its surface basic functional groups. Kinetic and isotherm studies of MB removal from synthetic solutions by ROS and the alkali-treated material (ATOS) showed that for both adsorbents, the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir model fitted the best the experimental data, respectively, which indicates that MB removal might be mainly a chemical and a monolayer process. Furthermore, thanks to the chemical modification of the ROS, the MB maximal uptake capacity has increased from about 39.7 to 78.7 mg g−1. On the other hand, due to the competition phenomenon, the coexistence of MB and Zn(II) ions could significantly decrease the MB removal efficiency. A maximal decrease of about 32 % was registered for an initial Zn(II) concentration of 140 mg L−1. Desorption experiments undertaken at natural pH (without adjustment: pH = 6) and with different NaCl concentrations emphasized that the adsorbed MB could be significantly desorbed from both the tested materials, offering their possible reuse as efficient adsorbents. All these results confirmed that NaOH-treated orange tree sawdust could be considered as an efficient, economic, and ecological alternative for the removal of cationic dyes from industrial wastewaters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akrout H, Jellali S, Bousselmi L (2015) Enhancement of methylene blue removal by anodic oxidation using BDD electrode combined with adsorption onto sawdust. Comptes Rendus Chim 18:110–120. doi:10.1016/j.crci.2014.09.006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Al Jibouri AKH, Wu J, Upreti SR (2015) Continuous ozonation of methylene blue in water. J water. Process Eng 8:142–150. doi:10.1016/j.jwpe.2015.10.002

    Google Scholar 

  • Amirnia S, Ray MB, Margaritis A (2016) Copper ion removal by Acer saccharum leaves in a regenerable continuous-flow column. Chem Eng J 287:755–764. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2015.11.056

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Annadurai G, Juang RS, Lee DJ (2002) Use of cellulose-based wastes for adsorption of dyes from aqueous solutions. J Hazard Mater 92:263–274. doi:10.1016/S0304-3894(02)00017-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Azzaz AA, Jellali S, Assadi AA, Bousselmi L (2015) Chemical treatment of orange tree sawdust for a cationic dye enhancement removal from aqueous solutions: kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies. Desalin Water Treat 3994:1–13. doi:10.1080/19443994.2015.1103313

    Google Scholar 

  • Banat F, Al-Asheh S, Al-Makhadmeh L (2003) Evaluation of the use of raw and activated date pits as potential adsorbents for dye containing waters. Process Biochem 39:193–202. doi:10.1016/S0032-9592(03)00065-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Batzias FA, Sidiras DK (2007) Simulation of methylene blue adsorption by salts-treated beech sawdust in batch and fixed-bed systems. J Hazard Mater 149:8–17. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.03.043

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya KG, Sharma A (2005) Kinetics and thermodynamics of methylene blue adsorption on neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf powder. Dyes Pigments 65:51–59. doi:10.1016/j.dyepig.2004.06.016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boehm HP (2002) Surface oxides on carbon and their analysis: a critical assessment. Carbon N Y 40:145–149. doi:10.1016/S0008-6223(01)00165-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bouaziz I, Chiron C, Abdelhedi R, Savall A, Serrano KG (2014) Treatment of dilute methylene blue-containing wastewater by coupling sawdust adsorption and electrochemical regeneration. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21:8565–8572. doi:10.1007/s11356-014-2785-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calero M, Ronda A, Martín-Lara MA, Pérez A, Blázquez G (2013) Chemical activation of olive tree pruning to remove lead(II) in batch system: factorial design for process optimization. Biomass Bioenergy 58:322–332. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2013.08.021

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Das P, Banerjee P, Mondal S (2014) Mathematical modelling and optimization of synthetic textile dye removal using soil composites as highly competent liner material. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int:1318–1328. doi:10.1007/s11356-014-3419-1

  • Ding F, Xie Y, Peng W, Peng Y-K (2016) Measuring the bioactivity and molecular conformation of typically globular proteins with phenothiazine-derived methylene blue in solid and in solution: a comparative study using photochemistry and computational chemistry. J Photochem Photobiol B Biol 158:69–80. doi:10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2016.02.029

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Djilali, Y, Elandaloussi, EH, Aziz, A, de Ménorval, LC (2012) Alkaline treatment of timber sawdust: a straightforward route toward effective low-cost adsorbent for the enhanced removal of basic dyes from aqueous solutions. J. Saudi Chem. Soc.

  • French AD (2014) Idealized powder diffraction patterns for cellulose polymorphs. Cellulose 21:885–896. doi:10.1007/s10570-013-0030-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghaedi M, Mazaheri H, Khodadoust S, Hajati S, Purkait MK (2015) Application of central composite design for simultaneous removal of methylene blue and Pb2+ ions by walnut wood activated carbon. Spectrochim Acta—Part A Mol Biomol Spectrosc 135:479–490. doi:10.1016/j.saa.2014.06.138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gomes CS, Piccin JS, Gutterres M (2016) Optimizing adsorption parameters in tannery-dye-containing effluent treatment with leather shaving waste. Process Saf Environ Prot 99:98–106. doi:10.1016/j.psep.2015.10.013

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gwon JG, Lee SY, Doh GH, Kim JH (2010) Characterization of chemically modified wood fibers using FTIR spectroscopy for biocomposites. J Appl Polym Sci 116:3212–3219. doi:10.1002/app.31746

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hameed BH, Ahmad AA (2009) Batch adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution by garlic peel, an agricultural waste biomass. J Hazard Mater 164:870–875. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.08.084

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jellali S, Ali M, Anane M, Riahi K, Jedidi N (2011a) Biosorption characteristics of ammonium from aqueous solutions onto Posidonia oceanica (L.) fibers. DES 270:40–49. doi:10.1016/j.desal.2010.11.018

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jellali S, Ali M, Ben Hassine R, Hamzaoui AH, Bousselmi L (2011b) Adsorption characteristics of phosphorus from aqueous solutions onto phosphate mine wastes. Chem Eng J 169:157–165. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2011.02.076

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jellali S, Diamantopoulos E, Haddad K, Anane M, Durner W, Mlayah A (2016) Lead removal from aqueous solutions by raw sawdust and magnesium pretreated biochar: experimental investigations and numerical modelling. J Environ Manag 180:439–449. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.05.055

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang L, Hu S, Sun LS, Su S, Xu K, He L, Xiang J (2013) Influence of different demineralization treatments on physicochemical structure and thermal degradation of biomass. Bioresour Technol 146:254–260. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2013.07.063

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johar N, Ahmad I, Dufresne A (2012) Extraction, preparation and characterization of cellulose fibres and nanocrystals from rice husk. Ind Crop Prod 37:93–99. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2011.12.016

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kalavathy MH, Regupathi I, Pillai MG, Miranda LR (2009) Modelling, analysis and optimization of adsorption parameters for H3PO4 activated rubber wood sawdust using response surface methodology (RSM). Colloids Surfaces B Biointerfaces 70:35–45. doi:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2008.12.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kyzas GZ, Siafaka PI, Pavlidou EG, Chrissafis KJ, Bikiaris DN (2015) Synthesis and adsorption application of succinyl-grafted chitosan for the simultaneous removal of zinc and cationic dye from binary hazardous mixtures. Chem Eng J 259:438–448. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2014.08.019

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malarvizhi R, Ho Y-S (2010) The influence of pH and the structure of the dye molecules on adsorption isotherm modeling using activated carbon. Desalination 264:97–101. doi:10.1016/j.desal.2010.07.010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malekbala MR, Khan MA, Hosseini S, Abdullah LC, Choong TSY (2015) Adsorption/desorption of cationic dye on surfactant modified mesoporous carbon coated monolith: equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies. J Ind Eng Chem 21:369–377. doi:10.1016/j.jiec.2014.02.047

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nazari G, Abolghasemi H, Esmaieli M, Pouya ES (2016) Aqueous phase adsorption of cephalexin by walnut shell-based activated carbon: a fixed-bed column study. Appl Surf Sci. doi:10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.03.096

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavlović MD, Buntić AV, Mihajlovski KR, Šiler-Marinković SS, Antonović DG, Radovanović Ž, Dimitrijević-Branković SI (2014) Rapid cationic dye adsorption on polyphenol-extracted coffee grounds—a response surface methodology approach. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng 45:1691–1699. doi:10.1016/j.jtice.2013.12.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pezoti Junior O, Cazetta AL, Gomes RC et al (2014) Synthesis of ZnCl2-activated carbon from macadamia nut endocarp (Macadamia integrifolia) by microwave-assisted pyrolysis: optimization using RSM and methylene blue adsorption. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 105:166–176. doi:10.1016/j.jaap.2013.10.015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rafatullah M, Sulaiman O, Hashim R, Ahmad A (2010) Adsorption of methylene blue on low-cost adsorbents: a review. J Hazard Mater 177:70–80

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rahman HU, Shakirullah M, Ahmad I, Shah S, Shah AA (2005) Removal of copper(II) ions from aqueous medium by sawdust of wood. J Chem Soc Pakistan 27:233–238

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sen TK, Afroze S, Ang HM (2011) Equilibrium, kinetics and mechanism of removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution by adsorption onto pine cone biomass of Pinus radiata. Water Air Soil Pollut 218:499–515. doi:10.1007/s11270-010-0663-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma YC, Upadhyay SN (2009) Removal of a cationic dye from wastewaters by adsorption on activated carbon developed from coconut coir. Energy and Fuels 23:2983–2988. doi:10.1021/ef9001132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi Z, Yang Q, Cai J (2014) Effects of lignin and hemicellulose contents on dissolution of wood pulp in aqueous NaOH/urea solution. Cellulose 21:1205–1215. doi:10.1007/s10570-014-0226-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soniya M, Muthuraman G (2013) Recovery of methylene blue from aqueous solution by liquid–liquid extraction. Desalin Water Treat:1–9. doi:10.1080/19443994.2013.866055

  • Tehrani MS, Zare-Dorabei R (2016) Competitive removal of hazardous dyes from aqueous solution by MIL-68(Al): derivative spectrophotometric method and response surface methodology approach. Spectrochim Acta - Part A Mol Biomol Spectrosc 160:8–18. doi:10.1016/j.saa.2016.02.002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vadivelan V, Vasanth Kumar K (2005) Equilibrium, kinetics, mechanism, and process design for the sorption of methylene blue onto rice husk. J Colloid Interface Sci 286:90–100. doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2005.01.007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wan Ngah WS, Hanafiah MAKM (2008) Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater by chemically modified plant wastes as adsorbents: a review. Bioresour Technol 99:3935–3948. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2007.06.011

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang L (2013) Removal of disperse red dye by bamboo-based activated carbon: optimisation, kinetics and equilibrium. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20:4635–4646. doi:10.1007/s11356-012-1421-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yagub MT, Sen TK, Afroze S, Ang HM (2014) Dye and its removal from aqueous solution by adsorption: a review. Adv Colloid Interf Sci 209:172–184. doi:10.1016/j.cis.2014.04.002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yagub MT, Sen TK, Ang HM (2012) Equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics of methylene blue adsorption by pine tree leaves. Water Air Soil Pollut 223:5267–5282. doi:10.1007/s11270-012-1277-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research work has been carried out in the framework of a Tunisian national project. Financial support of this work by the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wastewaters and Environment Laboratory, Water Research and Technologies Center, BP 273, 8020, Soliman, Tunisia

    Ahmed Amine Azzaz, Salah Jellali, Hanene Akrout & Latifa Bousselmi

  2. Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7000, Jarzouna, Tunisia

    Ahmed Amine Azzaz

  3. Laboratory of Chemical Sciences of Rennes Sciences—Chemical and Process Engineering team, MRU 6226 ICSR, ENSCR-11, Allée de Beaulieu, 508307-35708, Rennes, France

    Aymen Amine Assadi

Authors
  1. Ahmed Amine Azzaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Salah Jellali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hanene Akrout
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Aymen Amine Assadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Latifa Bousselmi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Salah Jellali.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Vítor Pais Vilar

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

Two tables of ANOVA test for central composite design of MB adsorption by orange tree sawdust and the predicted CCD modeling values vs. the observed ones were added. The document contains also desirability function curves for the studied model, TGA analysis curves for ROS and ATOS. (DOCX 71 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Azzaz, A.A., Jellali, S., Akrout, H. et al. Optimization of a cationic dye removal by a chemically modified agriculture by-product using response surface methodology: biomasses characterization and adsorption properties. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 9831–9846 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7698-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7698-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation