Effective removal of cationic dyes from aqueous solutions by using black cumin (Nigella sativa) seed pulp and biochar

Abstract

Black cumin seed pulp (C), as well as biochar (CC) produced via pyrolysis of black cumin seed pulp were used to remove methylene violet 2B (MV) and basic yellow 28 (BY28) from aqueous solution. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics were applied at 10, 25, and 35 °C. The adsorption of methylene violet 2B and basic yellow 28 on the black cumin seed pulp and biochar surface was exothermic; the heat of adsorption values were lower than 0. The adsorption capacities of BY28-C, BY28-CC, MV-C, and MV-CC were 212.8, 625, 164, and 909 mg g-1 at 25 °C, respectively. The adsorption of black cumin seed pulp and biochar data were examined with the Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R), and Flory-Huggins (F-H) isotherm models. The kinetics of the adsorption were fitted to the pseudo first-order and pseudo second order equations. The pseudo second order equation gave a better fit than the pseudo first-order equation.