Exploring the Adsorption Performance of Eggshell Powder for Methylene Blue Removal from Wastewater

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 5, 1548 - 1555, 15.09.2025

Emine Kayhan

https://doi.org/10.34248/bsengineering.1746982

Abstract

This study investigates the potential of eggshell (ES) powder as a sustainable and low-cost adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solutions. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted using an initial MB concentration of 20 mg/L and ES powder with an average particle size of 5.49 µm (D₀.₅). The effects of pH (2, 7, and 12), contact time (0–45 minutes), and adsorbent dosage (0–40 g/L) on MB removal efficiency were evaluated. The ES powder was prepared through drying, grinding, and ball milling, and characterized using SEM, FTIR, and particle size analysis. UV–Vis spectrophotometric measurements indicated that MB adsorption was highly pH-dependent, with removal efficiency of 98% observed at pH 12, 10 g/L ES dosage, and 5 minutes contact time. The adsorption efficiency increased rapidly in the first 5 minutes, followed by a gradual plateau as equilibrium was approached. FTIR spectra confirmed interactions between MB and ES, particularly under alkaline conditions, supporting the role of electrostatic attraction. Compared to previous ES-based adsorbents, this study demonstrates improved removal efficiency at lower contact times without thermal or chemical pre-treatment, highlighting its novelty. Overall, the findings demonstrate that ES is an effective, eco-friendly adsorbent for MB removal, especially under basic pH, making it a promising candidate for wastewater treatment applications.

Keywords

Methylene blue , Eggshell powder , Adsorption , Wastewater treatment , pH-dependent removal

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval was not required for this study because of there was no study on animals or humans.

References

• Abdel-Khalek MA, Abdel Rahman MK, Francis AA. 2017. Exploring the adsorption behavior of cationic and anionic dyes on industrial waste shells of egg. J Environ Chem Eng, 5(1): 319-327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2016.11.043
• Abdulla NK, Siddiqui SI, Tara N, Hashmi AA, Chaudhry SA. 2019. Psidium guajava leave-based magnetic nanocomposite γ-Fe2O3@GL: A green technology for methylene blue removal from water. J Environ Chem Eng, 7(6): 103423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2019.103423
• Ajmal A, Majeed I, Malik RN, Idriss H, Nadeem MA. 2014. Principles and mechanisms of photocatalytic dye degradation on TiO2 based photocatalysts: A comparative overview. RSC Adv, 4(70): 37003-37026. https://doi.org/10.1039/C4RA06658H
• Aragaw TA, Bogale FM. 2021. Biomass-based adsorbents for removal of dyes from wastewater: A review. Front Environ Sci, 9: 764958. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2021.764958
• Badri AF, Juleanti N, Mohadi R, Mardiyanto M, Lesbani A. 2022. The efficiency of Mg-Al/biochar for methyl orange and methyl red removal. Ecol Eng Environ Technol, 23(1): 202-211. https://doi.org/10.12912/27197050/142971
• Chkirida S, Zari N, Achour R, Hassoune H, Lachehab A, Qaiss AE, Bouhfid R. 2021. Highly synergic adsorption/photocatalytic efficiency of alginate/bentonite impregnated TiO2 beads for wastewater treatment. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem, 412: 113215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2021.113215
• Das D, Samal DP, Meikap BC. 2015. Preparation of activated carbon from green coconut shell and its characterization. J Chem Eng Process Technol, 6: 248. https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7048.1000248
• Fendi WJ, Naser JA. 2018. Adsorption isotherms study of methylene blue dye on membranes from electrospun nanofibers. Orient J Chem, 34(6): 2884-2894. https://doi.org/10.13005/ojc/340628
• Ferkous H, Rouibah K, Hammoudi NEH, Alam M, Djilani C, Delimi A, Laraba O, Yadav KK, Ahn HJ, Jeon BH, Benguerba Y. 2022. The removal of a textile dye from an aqueous solution using a biocomposite adsorbent. Polymers, 14(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14122396
• Gupta A, Vennila T, Andiyappan K, Shreepad S, Sathiyamoorthy M, Gopala Gupta ASALG. 2023. Characterization of the hydroxyapathite obtained from chicken egg shell applied in bioceramics. Mater Today Proc. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.09.079
• Hameed BH. 2009. Evaluation of papaya seeds as a novel non-conventional low-cost adsorbent for removal of methylene blue. J Hazard Mater, 162(2): 939-944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.05.120
• Hasan R, Chong CC, Setiabudi HD, Jusoh R, Jalil AA. 2019. Process optimization of methylene blue adsorption onto eggshell-treated palm oil fuel ash. Environ Technol Innov, 13: 62-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2018.10.004
• Hashemi SH, Kaykhaii M. 2022. Chapter 15-Azo dyes: Sources, occurrence, toxicity, sampling, analysis, and their removal methods. In: Dalu T, Tavengwa NT (eds). Emerging freshwater pollutants. Elsevier, p: 267-287. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-822850-0.00013-2
• Hassan AA, Salih ZA. 2013. Methylene blue removal from aqueous solution by adsorption on eggshell bed. Euphrates J Agric Sci, 5(2): 11-23. https://cdnx.uobabylon.edu.iq/research/E2d3HngqjUWTB76yse1BaQ.pdf
• Howland MA. 2022. Chapter 3.3-Methylene blue. In: Woolf AD (ed). History of modern clinical toxicology. Academic Press, pp: 231-241. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-822218-8.00052-1
• Hussain S, Khan S, Gul S, Khan N, Khan H. 2019. Contamination of water resources by food dyes and its removal technologies. In: Eyvaz M, Yüksel E (eds). Water chemistry. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90331
• Kamath Miyar H, Pai A, Goveas LC. 2021. Adsorption of malachite green by extracellular polymeric substance of Lysinibacillus sp. SS1: Kinetics and isotherms. Heliyon, 7(6): e07169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07169
• Kathing C, Saini G. 2022. A review of various treatment methods for the removal of dyes from textile effluent. Recent Prog Mater, 4(4): 028. https://doi.org/10.21926/rpm.2204028
• Kayhan E. 2025. Temperature-controlled synthesis of bismuth tungstate with enhanced photochromic properties. Int J Appl Ceram Technol, 22(3): e15079. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijac.15079
• Kayhan M. 2025. Comparative study of photochromic behavior of bismuth tungstate via different surfactants. Ceram Int, 51(14): 19579-19588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.02.133
• Kayhan M, Aksoy M, Kayhan E. 2024. A facile synthesis of photocatalytic Fe(OH)3 nanoparticles for degradation of phenol. ChemistrySelect, 9(23): e202401367. https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202401367
• Kayhan M, Kayhan E. in press. Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic performance evaluation of manganese tungstate for methyl red dye degradation. Pamukkale Univ J Eng Sci, 1000(1000): 0-0. https://doi.org/10.5505/pajes.2025.27723
• Ledakowicz S, Paździor K. 2021. Recent achievements in dyes removal focused on advanced oxidation processes integrated with biological methods. Molecules, 26(4): 1185. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26040870
• Lellis B, Fávaro-Polonio CZ, Pamphile JA, Polonio JC. 2019. Effects of textile dyes on health and the environment and bioremediation potential of living organisms. Biotechnol Res Innov, 3(2): 275-290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biori.2019.09.001
• Lou T, Yan X, Wang X. 2019. Chitosan coated polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous mat for dye adsorption. Int J Biol Macromol, 135: 919-925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.06.008
• 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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2014.02.047
• Manyatshe A, Sibali LL. 2025. A review on egg waste-based adsorbents for the removal of organic and inorganic contaminants from aqueous solution. Heliyon, 11(3): e42278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42278
• Mubarak HA, Kubba MA, Hashim K, Al-Janabi A, Safaa KH. 2021. A short review on dyes removal from water and wastewaters. IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng, 1184(1): 012017. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1184/1/012017
• Nawaz M, Muhammad Afzaal D, Shahid Z, Jam M, Ahmad S, Nawaz H. 2023. Studies on the role of fungal strains in bioremediation of dyes isolated from textile effluents. Int J Econ Environ Geol, 12: 32-37. https://doi.org/10.46660/ijeeg.v12i2.100
• Putra A, Fitri WE, Yuniko F, Handayani T, Hidayat H, Ighalo JO. 2025. Evaluating the potential of duck egg shell for methylene blue adsorption in medical laboratory wastewater. Pollution, 11(3): 828-845. https://journals.ut.ac.ir/article_101002_884371d4dade3fab98cfd2ceeb4277c4.pdf
• Raliya R, Avery C, Chakrabarti S, Biswas P. 2017. Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange dye by pristine titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and graphene oxide nanostructures and their composites under visible light irradiation. Appl Nanosci, 7(5): 253-259. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-017-0565-z
• Rathour R, Jain K, Madamwar D, Desai C. 2019. Microaerophilic biodegradation of raw textile effluent by synergistic activity of bacterial community DR4. J Environ Manage, 250: 109549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109549
• Salah SB, Attia A, Ben Amar R, Heran M. 2025. Eggshell waste as a sustainable adsorbent for effective removal of direct dyes from textile wastewater. ChemistrySelect, 10(16): e202500149. https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202500149
• Savcı S, Karadağ F. 2020. Fast adsorption of methylene blue by filter coffee waste. NWSA Acad J, 15(4): 111-120. https://doi.org/10.12739/nwsa.2020.15.4.5a0138
• Selvam K. 2023. Recent trends in agro-waste based activated carbons for the removal of emerging textile pollutants. Int J Environ Anal Chem, 103(17): 5142-5158. https://doi.org/10.1080/03067319.2021.1935910
• Shah MP. 2019. Chapter 6-Bioremediation of azo dye. In: Shah MP, Rodriguez-Couto S (eds). Microbial wastewater treatment. Elsevier, pp: 103-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816809-7.00006-3
• Strebel A, Behringer M, Hilbig H, Machner A, Helmreich B. 2024. Anionic azo dyes and their removal from textile wastewater through adsorption by various adsorbents: A critical review. Front Environ Eng, 3: 1347981. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenve.2024.1347981
• Vassileva P, Tumbalev V, Kichukova D, Voykova D, Kovacheva D, Spassova I. 2023. Study on the dye removal from aqueous solutions by graphene-based adsorbents. Materials, 16(17): 5754. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16175754
• Wu Y. 2017. Chapter 16-The removal of methyl orange by periphytic biofilms: Equilibrium and kinetic modeling. In: Wu Y (ed). Periphyton. Elsevier, pp: 367-387. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-801077-8.00016-8
• Younis SA, Serp P, Nassar HN. 2021. Photocatalytic and biocidal activities of ZnTiO2 oxynitride heterojunction with MOF-5 and g-C3N4: A case study for textile wastewater treatment under direct sunlight. J Hazard Mater, 410: 124562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124562
• Yusoff NA, Yee LY, Iberahim NI, Zainol NA, Abdullah S, Zailani SN. 2021. Synthesis and characterization of carboxymethyl cellulose derived from office paper waste for methylene blue dye removal. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci, 646(1): 012008. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/646/1/012008