Appraisal of bed height and flow rate effect on the removal of dyes on Pine biomass

D. I. Idika, N. A. Ndukwe and C. E. Ogukwe

Abstract

The impact of flow rate and bed height on the adsorption behavior of methylene blue, Bismarck brown y, and indigo dyes on to Cedrus libani was investigated. The biomass was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) before and after adsorption to ascertain the functional groups responsible for the adsorption. The amount of dye adsorbed per unit mass of the biomass (qe) was calculated and was found to be dependent on the variables investigated within the experimental range. It was discovered that increase in bed height and flow rate increased the value of the dye adsorbed on to the biomass. The results obtained show that methylene blue
dye adsorbed more onto the biomass, while indigo dye adsorbed at the least level. Findings revealed that the Cedrus libani biomass is promising efficiency for the removal of dyes in textile effluents.