Dynamic Sorption of Methylene Blue (MB) Dye in Continuous Column Using Bio-Sorbent (Ailanthus excelsa Roxb)

Industrial waste containing dye poses a threat to the ecosystem and human as well as aquatic life. Methylene blue (MB, a cationic dye) has been used in excess amounts in textile, pulp and paper, rubber, plastics, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and food industries. MB dye released in water sources makes the water toxic in nature. So, to remove the dye from wastewater various methods (physical, chemical and biological) are adopted for treatment purposes. Among them, adsorption is found to be more economical and eco-friendlier in comparison to others. Various adsorbents reported have been the literature for the removal of MB dye such as wheat straw, rice husk, cashew nut shell, sawdust, wood, pine needles, green grass, eucalyptus bark, peanut shell, coconut shell, coir dust, etc. In this experimental study, Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. (AER) is utilised for the treatment of MB dye from the wastewater in continuous mode by varying the different parameters viz., bed height, flow rate, and the initial concentration of MB dye. Yoon-Nelson and Clark's models have been applied to predict the break through curve and to find out the characteristic parameters of column suitable for process design. The study reported that Clark's model was found to be fit for the breakthrough curve. The findings revealed that Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. has a high adsorption potential, and it could be used to treat dye-containing effluents.