Adsorption of Congo red dye in water by orange peel biochar modified with CTAB

Abstract

In order to improve the adsorption effect of biochar on Congo red dye, this study used hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) to organically modify orange peel biochar (OBC) to produce CTAB-modified orange peel biochar (NOBC), and the biochar before and after modification was analyzed by SEM-EDS, FTIR and BET. The adsorption performance of NOBC on Congo red dye was investigated and the adsorption mechanism was studied. The results showed that the adsorption amount was influenced by the initial concentration, adsorption time and solution pH. NOBC adsorbed 50 mg L⁻¹ CR with an equilibrium time of 60 min and an equilibrium amount of 290.1 mg g⁻¹, while the adsorption equilibrium time of OBC was 210 min and an equilibrium amount of 155.2 mg g⁻¹, the adsorption of CR by NOBC was above 210 mg g⁻¹ at pH 2 to 11, NOBC can be recycled three times. The experimental results showed that the adsorption data of CR on NOBC were consistent with the Langmuir isothermal adsorption model and the Pseudo-second-order model, and the mechanism of CR adsorption on NOBC mainly included electrostatic attraction and surface adsorption. In conclusion, NOBC is a promising material for dye wastewater adsorption.