An Eco-Friendly Solution to Industrial Dye Pollution: Removal of Methylene Blue by Activated Carbon

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 6, 1731 - 1738, 15.11.2025

Hakan Yıldız

https://doi.org/10.34248/bsengineering.1680833

Öz

With the rapid pace of industrialization and urbanization, water pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing global environmental challenges. Synthetic dyes discharged from industries such as textiles, paper, plastics, and paints are of particular concern due to their toxic, persistent, and bio-accumulative nature, which poses long-term risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health. This study investigates the adsorption performance of commercial activated carbon for the removal of methylene blue, a model toxic dye, from aqueous solutions. The physicochemical characteristics of the adsorbent were examined using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Adsorption experiments were optimized with respect to pH, initial dye concentration, and contact time, and further evaluated using kinetic and isotherm modeling. The kinetic data best fits the pseudo-second-order model, while equilibrium data correlated strongly with the Langmuir isotherm, indicating monolayer adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity was calculated to be 290.66 mg g⁻¹. These findings demonstrate that commercial activated carbon provides an environmentally friendly, effective, and feasible solution for the mitigation of toxic dye pollution in water resources.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Water pollution , Methylene blue , Toxic dye , Activated carbon , Adsorption

Etik Beyan

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

Kaynakça

• Abdelsamad AMA, Saeidi N, Mackenzie K. 2025. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles for rapid removal of PFOA: Impact of surface functional groups on adsorption efficiency and adsorbent regeneration. Environ Pollut, 383: 126796.
• Al-Asadi ST, Mussa ZH, Al-Qaim FF, Kamyab H, Al-Saedi HFS, Deyab IF, Kadhim NJ. 2025. A comprehensive review of methylene blue dye adsorption on activated carbon from edible fruit seeds: a case study on kinetics and adsorption models. Carbon Trends, 2025: 100507.
• Argumedo-Delira R, Gómez-Martínez MJ, Uribe-Kaffure R. 2021. Trichoderma biomass as an alternative for removal of congo red and malachite green industrial dyes. Appl Sci, 11: 448.
• Baytar O, Şahin Ö, Saka C, Ağrak S. 2018. Characterization of microwave and conventional heating on the pyrolysis of pistachio shells for the adsorption of methylene blue and iodine. Anal Lett, 51: 2205-2220.
• De Smedt J, Arauzo PJ, Ronsse F. 2025. Molten salts vs conventional activating agents for activated carbon production: A comprehensive review. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis, 192: 107239.
• de Souza CC, de Souza LZM, Yılmaz M, de Oliveira MA, da Silva Bezerra AC, da Silva EF, Dumont MR, Machado ART. 2022. Activated carbon of Coriandrum sativum for adsorption of methylene blue: Equilibrium and kinetic modeling. Clean Mater, 3: 100052.
• Djelloul A, Boutaleb N, Ezzat AO, Sabantina L, Abd-Elkader OH, Dhygham Alkoudsi B, Hamadouche M, Benyoucef A. 2024. Polyaniline-modified metal oxides adsorbents for the application in the Congo red dye adsorption. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp, 703: 135266.
• Dutta S, Bhattacharjee J. 2022. A comparative study between physicochemical and biological methods for effective removal of textile dye from wastewater. In: Development in Wastewater Treatment Research and Processes. Elsevier, pp: 1-21.
• Freundlich HMF. 1906. Over the adsorption in solution. J Phys Chem, 57: 385-470.
• Ho Y. 2006. Review of second-order models for adsorption systems. J Hazard Mater, 136: 681-689.
• Isawi H, Sadik MA, Nasr FA. 2024. Combined electrocoagulation/flotation technique and membrane desalination for textile wastewater reuse. J Environ Chem Eng, 12: 113661.
• Kaouah F, Boumaza S, Berrama T, Trari M, Bendjama Z. 2013. Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from wild olive cores (oleaster) by H3PO4 for the removal of Basic Red 46. J Clean Prod, 54: 296-306.
• Kausar A, Zohra ST, Ijaz S, Iqbal M, Iqbal J, Bibi I, Nouren S, El Messaoudi N, Nazir A. 2023. Cellulose-based materials and their adsorptive removal efficiency for dyes: A review. Int J Biol Macromol, 224: 1337-1355.
• Kutluay S, Baytar O, Şahin Ö, Arran A. 2020. Optimization of process conditions for adsorption of methylene blue on formaldehyde-modified peanut shells using box-behnken experimental design and response surface methodology. Eur J Tech, 10(1): 131-142.
• Kutluay S, Baytar O, Şahin Ö. 2019. Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies for dynamic adsorption of benzene in gas phase onto activated carbon produced from elaeagnus angustifolia seeds. J Environ Chem Eng, 7: 102947.
• Lagergren S. 1898. About the theory of so-called adsorptıon of soluble substances. K Sven Vetenskapsakad Handl, 24: 1-39.
• Langmuir I. 1918. The adsorption of gases on plane surfaces of glass, mica and platinum. J Am Chem Soc, 40: 1361-1403.
• Li X, Sun F, Qu Z, Feng Y, Li Y, Yang C, Li J, Zhang W, Wang T, Zhao G. 2024. Selective pore regulation of activated carbon using trace carbonate-assisted catalytic activation: Revealing the effect of cation catalysis on pore topology. Chem Eng J, 481: 148626.
• Lin Q, Zeng G, Yan G, Luo J, Cheng X, Zhao Z, Li H. 2022a. Self-cleaning photocatalytic MXene composite membrane for synergistically enhanced water treatment: Oil/water separation and dyes removal. Chem Eng J, 427: 131668.
• Lin Y, Xu D, Chen Z, Yu Y, Li F, Huang X, Liu Y, He M. 2022b. P-modified deactivated TS-1: A benign catalyst for the MTP reaction. Catal Today, 405-406: 258-266.
• Liu Q-S, Zheng T, Li N, Wang P, Abulikemu G. 2010. Modification of bamboo-based activated carbon using microwave radiation and its effects on the adsorption of methylene blue. Appl Surf Sci, 256: 3309-3315.
• Liu X-J, Li M-F, Singh SK. 2021. Manganese-modified lignin biochar as adsorbent for removal of methylene blue. J Mater Res Technol, 12: 1434-1445.
• Mohammed J, Nasri NS, Ahmad Zaini MA, Hamza UD, Ani FN. 2015. Adsorption of benzene and toluene onto KOH activated coconut shell based carbon treated with NH 3. Int Biodeterior Biodegradation, 102: 245-255.
• Murugavel R, Rownaghi AA, Rezaei F. 2025. Ionic liquid-induced exfoliation of graphitic carbon nitride adsorbent for hydrogen storage. Carbon NY, 240 :120263.
• Nasab SG, Semnani A, Teimouri A, Yazd MJ, Isfahani TM, Habibollahi S. 2019. Decolorization of crystal violet from aqueous solutions by a novel adsorbent chitosan/nanodiopside using response surface methodology and artificial neural network-genetic algorithm. Int J Biol Macromol, 124: 429-443.
• Ouedrhiri A, Ennabely M, Lghazi Y, Chafi M, Alougayl S, Youbi B, Halabi AK, Khoukhi M, Bimaghra I. 2023. Adsorption of anionic and cationic dyes in aqueous solution by a sustainable and low-cost activated carbon based on argan solid waste treated with H3PO4. Environ Sci Pollut Res, 31(53): 62010-62021.
• Philip J. 2023. Magnetic nanofluids (Ferrofluids): Recent advances, applications, challenges, and future directions. Adv Colloid Interface Sci, 311: 102810.
• Rahman MM. 2024. Waste biomass derived chitosan-natural clay based bionanocomposites fabrication and their potential application on wastewater purification by continuous adsorption: A critical review. South African J Chem Eng, 48: 214-236.
• Razmi FA, Ngadi N, Wong S, Inuwa IM, Opotu LA. 2019. Kinetics, thermodynamics, isotherm and regeneration analysis of chitosan modified pandan adsorbent. J Clean Prod, 231: 98-109.
• Rostami S, Pour AN, Veiskarami S, Mohammadi A. 2025. Effect of sulfur-containing organic molecules on the structural stability of Ni-Y zeolite adsorbent. Sep Purif Technol, 377: 134253.
• Sebeia N, Jabli M, Ghith A, El Ghoul Y, Alminderej FM. 2019. Populus tremula, Nerium oleander and Pergularia tomentosa seed fibers as sources of cellulose and lignin for the bio-sorption of methylene blue. Int J Biol Macromol, 121: 655-665.
• Son JY, Choe S, Jang YJ, Kim H. 2024. Waste paper-derived porous carbon via microwave-assisted activation for energy storage and water purification. Chemosphere, 355: 141798.
• Stjepanović M, Velić N, Galić A, Kosović I, Jakovljević T, Habuda-Stanić M. 2021. From waste to biosorbent: Removal of congo red from water by waste wood biomass. Water, 13: 279.
• Suthakaran V, Thomas R, Guirard M, Meeroff D, Jahandar Lashaki M. 2025. Developing activated carbon adsorbent materials using cyanobacterial biomass as precursor to remove phosphate from surface waters. Algal Res, 86: 103901.
• Tang R, Dai C, Li C, Liu W, Gao S, Wang C. 2017. Removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution using agricultural residue walnut shell: Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies. J Chem, 2017: 1-10.
• Temkin M, Pyzhev V. 1940. Recent modifications to Langmuir isotherms. Acta Physiochim URSS, 12: 217-225.
• Tharaneedhar V, Senthil Kumar P, Saravanan A, Ravikumar C, Jaikumar V. 2017. Prediction and interpretation of adsorption parameters for the sequestration of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution using microwave assisted corncob activated carbon. Sustain Mater Technol, 11: 1-11.
• Vargas AMM, Cazetta AL, Kunita MH, Silva TL, Almeida VC. 2011. Adsorption of methylene blue on activated carbon produced from flamboyant pods (Delonix regia): Study of adsorption isotherms and kinetic models. Chem Eng J, 168: 722-730.
• Wang Q, Oluwaseyi Fagbohun E, Zhu H, Hussain A, Wang F, Cui Y. 2023. One-step synthesis of magnetic asphalt-based activated carbon with high specific surface area and adsorption performance for methylene blue. Sep Purif Technol, 124205.
• Weber WJ, Morris JC. 1963. Kinetics of Adsorption on Carbon from Solution. J Sanit Eng Div, 89: 31-59.
• Wu F-C, Tseng R-L, Juang R-S. 2009. Characteristics of Elovich equation used for the analysis of adsorption kinetics in dye-chitosan systems. Chem Eng J, 150: 366-373.
• Yao F, Ye G, Peng W, Zhao G, Wang X, Wang Y, Zhu W, Jiao Y, Huang H, Ye D. 2023. Preparation of activated biochar with adjustable pore structure by hydrothermal carbonization for efficient adsorption of VOCs and its practical application prospects. J Environ Chem Eng, 11: 109611.
• Yildiz H, Gülşen H, Şahin Ö, Baytar O, Kutluay S. 2023. Novel adsorbent for malachite green from okra stalks waste: synthesis, kinetics and equilibrium studies. Int J Phytoremediation, 26(3): 369-381.
• Yildiz H, Yuksel AY. 2023. Novel adsorbent for methylene blue from waste fish scales (Cyprinus Carpio): Kinetics and equilibrium studies. Environ Eng Manag J, 22: 1073-1080.
• Yildiz H, Yüksel AY. 2025. A novel biosorbent material from waste fish scales (Cyprinus carpio) for biosorption of toxic dyes in aquatic environments. Biomass Convers Biorefinery, 15: 1535-1548.
• Zaini MSM, Arshad M, Syed-Hassan SSA. 2023. Adsorption isotherm and kinetic study of methane on palm kernel shell-derived activated carbon. J Bioresour Bioprod, 8: 66-77.
• Zhang G, Lei B, Chen S, Xie H, Zhou G. 2021. Activated carbon adsorbents with micro-mesoporous structure derived from waste biomass by stepwise activation for toluene removal from air. J Environ Chem Eng, 9: 105387.
• Zhou Y, Lu J, Zhou Y, Liu Y. 2019. Recent advances for dyes removal using novel adsorbents: A review. Environ Pollut, 252: 352-365.