<p>Methylene Blue (MB) is
a dye frequently used in the textile industry and a potential wastewater
pollutant. MB adsorption onto the surface of solid materials is a promising
method for wastewater remediation. The biopolymer chitosan is one of the promising
candidates as an adsorbent for MB removal from wastewater. However, the contact
between MB and chitosan induces the aggregation of MB molecules. The formation
of MB aggregates can lead to an appearance of additional bands in the MB
visible absorption spectrum. This phenomenon is called metachromasy. In this
paper, chitosan was used as adsorbent to study the kinetics and thermodynamic
parameters related to the elimination of MB as single molecules (Sng-MB) and
aggregates (Agg-MB) species from simulated wastewater. It was found that, for
MB single molecules or aggregates, the adsorption process follows the pseudo
second order adsorption kinetics model. For each temperature studied, Agg-MB
always presented higher rate constant than Sng-MB, indicating a faster
adsorption of Agg-MB in comparison to Sng-MB.
Additionally, the adsorption process presented a lower activation energy
for Agg-MB, indicating Agg-MB adsorption is favored in relation to Sng-MB. The
thermodynamic studies indicated the adsorption process for both MB species is
endothermic and spontaneous from 298 to 348 K. The adsorption isotherms could
be properly fitted and interpreted according to Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich
models. Studies varying the initial pH of MB solution indicated that
metachromasy could be suppressed in acidic pH values, whereas alkaline pH
values led to an increase in the removal percentage of Sng-MB and Agg-MB in
relation to neutral conditions. The analysis of chitosan powder before and
after adsorption indicated the adsorption process does not cause structural
changes to the chitosan. The kinetic and thermodynamic study of the relative
adsorption of MB single molecules and aggregates onto chitosan can provide
fundamental information for MB wastewater remediation.</p>