In-Situ UV-Visible Spectroscopic Study on the Adsorption of some Dyes onto Activated Carbon Cloth

Abstract

Adsorptive removal of the dyes C.I. Basic Blue 9, C.I. Basic Red 2, and C.I. Acid Blue 74 from aqueous solution onto the activated carbon cloth (ACC) has been investigated. The removal of each dye has been followed by in-situ UV-visible spectroscopic method using the so-called scanning kinetics technique. Kinetic data obtained in this way were tested according to pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich, and intraparticle diffusion models. Pseudo-second order model was found to be the best in representing the experimental kinetic data. Adsorption isotherms at 30°C were derived for each dye. Isotherm data were found to fit best to Freundlich isotherm model among the three isotherm models tested; Langmuir, Freundlich, and Redlich-Peterson. High specific surface area of the ACC allowed almost complete removal of each dye under the experimental conditions applied. Adsorption capacity of the ACC for the three dyes was correlated with the dimensions of dye molecules and pore sizes of the ACC.