Evaluating of Agave americana fibers for biosorption of dye from aqueous solution

Fibers extracted from Agave americana were evaluated as a low cost sorbent for the removal of Malachite Green (MG) from aqueous solution. Agave fiber was characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and determining chemical content such as cellulose and hemicellulose. The crystallinity index and average size of crystals of agave fibers were obtained to be 53.29 % and 1.4 nm, respectively. The effects of temperature, amount of sorbent and ionic strength on biosorption behavior were investigated. By using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich equations, equilibrium biosorption data were analyzed. Based on R2 values, the best fit was provided with Langmuir isotherm. The results showed that the largest biosorption capacity was obtained as 33 mg g−1 at 318 K. According to the thermodynamic studies, biosorption was determined to be endothermic and spontaneous in nature. Biosorption kinetics was investigated by equations such as Elovich rate equations, intraparticle diffusion models, pseudo-second-order, and pseudo-first-order models.