Zeolite Waste Characterization and Use as Low-Cost, Ecofriendly, and Sustainable Material for Malachite Green and Methylene Blue Dyes Removal: Box–Behnken Design, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics

Abstract

This study investigated the potential of 4A zeolite, named4AZW in this work, generated by natural gas dehydration units as solid waste after several treatment cycles, as a low-cost adsorbent to separately remove two cationic dyes, methylene blue (MB) and malachite green (MG), from an aqueous solution within a batch process. The adsorbent material was characterized by N2gas adsorption–desorption, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, and the determination of its cation exchange capacity and point of zero charge. The influence of key operating parameters, such as the pH, adsorbent dosage, ionic strength, contact time, initial dye concentration, and temperature, was investigated. Three independent variables acting on MB adsorption performance were selected from the Box–Behnken design (BBD) and for process modeling and optimization. An analysis of variance (ANOVA), an F-test, and p-values were used to analyze the main and interaction effects. The experimental data were satisfyingly fitted with quadratic regression with adjusted R2= 0.9961. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model described the adsorption of the dyes on 4AZW. The equilibrium data were well-fitted by the Langmuir model for each adsorption system (MB-4AZW and MG-4AZW) with maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) values of 9.95 and 45.64 mg/g, respectively, at 25 °C. Thermodynamics studies showed that both adsorption systems are spontaneous and endothermic.

Enhanced Removal of As(V) and Pb(II) from Drinking and Irrigating Water Effluents Using Hydrothermally Synthesized Zeolite 5A

“…Assuming that the adsorbate is adsorbed on the active sites of the adsorbent [29], the pseudo second order (PSO) equation is given as [30]:…”

“…The Langmuir isotherm model assumes that only one solute species will occupy an active site on the homogeneous surface of the adsorbent [30], and that there are no interactions between adsorbed species [32]. Equation (10) represents the above-mentioned model:…”

“…The Freundlich isotherm model assumes that the adsorption process occurs on heterogeneous surfaces and does not restrict the formation of monolayers or a multilayer [30]. This is expressed by Equation (11).…”

Degradation of Procion brilliant yellow H‐E6G using ultrasonic and hydrodynamic cavitation combined with oxidants with demonstration at pilot scale

“…This suggests that SPC plays a significant role in the degradation of 1,4‐dioxane, providing an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to H 2 O 2 . Imessaoudene et al (2022) conducted a study on the effectiveness of 4A zeolite, specifically 4AZW, as an affordable adsorbent for removing cationic dyes, methylene blue (MB) and malachite green (MG), from water solutions, with maximum adsorption capacity values of 9.95 and 45.64 mg/g at 25°C, respectively. The optimal conditions of pH of 9, a 4AZW load of 0.06 g in 50 mL, an initial MB concentration of 8 mg/L, and a removal time of 70 min at 25°C for removing MB were determined using the Box–Behnken Design (BBD), resulting in a removal efficiency of over 99.09%.…”

An Eco-Friendly Adsorbent Based on Bacterial Cellulose and Vermiculite Composite for Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue and Sulfanilamide

“…For instance, Prof. Imessaoudene’s group prepared activated carbon from date stones by chemical activation with phosphoric acid and used it for the removal of gallic acid. They also used zeolite, a low-cost, eco-friendly, and sustainable material to remove malachite green, MB and toxic Congo red dye [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Kyzas et al, utilized low-cost natural textile fibers as adsorbents to remove basic dye from synthetic effluents [ 22 ].…”