A series of naturally occurring diatomaceous earth samples from Ouled Djilali, Mostaganem (Lower Chelif basin, Algeria northwestern), were investigated, which are characterized by the expansion and evolution during the Messinian age. Four varieties of diatomite were distinguished, characterized, and successfully used to adsorb methylene blue dye in aqueous medium. Several properties and characteristics of diatomite have been outlined using analytical methods such as X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), N2 adsorption–desorption (BET), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as other complementary analysis tests. Results showed that silica and calcium carbonates were the main constituents of the diatomite samples (ranging between 32.8 and 61.5% for SiO2; and 13.8–25.9% for CaO), with a slight difference in chemical composition between selected samples. Typical for all diatomite samples, the XRD analysis suggests a high mass quantity of amorphous phase (Opal); high content of crystal phase was also registered. FTIR allowed determining the basic characteristic silica bands regarding diatomite samples. While the BET and SEM investigations revealed that the studied diatomite material has a highly porous structure and was very rich in diatoms. The maximum adsorption capacity of methylene blue that was calculated from the Langmuir isotherm model was 116.59 mg/g (for Ouled Djilali: OD05 sample) at 25 °C and pH 7.0. The diatomite from Mostaganemian (Ouled Djilali) deposit may find promising applications as low-cost adsorbent for dyes removal from water.
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