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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 1, No 7, 2011 

© 2011 Velmurugan.P et al., licensee IPA- Open access - Distributed under Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0 

Research article ISSN 0976 – 4402 

Dye removal from aqueous solution using low cost adsorbent 

Velmurugan .P 1 , Rathina kumar.V 2 , Dhinakaran.G 3 

1- JRF, School of Civil Engineering, SASTRA University, Tamil Nadu, India 

2- Assistant Professor, School of Civil Engineering, SASTRA University, Tamil Nadu, India 

3- Professor, School of Civil Engineering, SASTRA University, Tamil nadu-613 401, India 

gd@civil.sastra.edu 

doi:10.6088/ijessi.00107020009 

ABSTRACT 

The use of cheap and eco-friendly adsorbents studied as an alternative substitution of 

activated carbon for removal of dyes from wastewater. Adsorbents prepared from orange peel, 

which is a domestic waste, successfully used to remove the methylene blue from an aqueous 

solution in a batch wise column. This study investigates the potential use of orange peel, 

pretreated with nominal treatment method, for removal of methylene blue from simulated 

wastewater. Treated orange peel used to adsorb methylene blue at varying dye concentration, 

adsorbent dosage, pH and contact time. Similar experiments conducted with some other lowcost 

adsorbent such as banana peel, neem leaves and commercially available powdered 

activated carbon (PAC). The adsorption capacity of orange peels decreased in the order of 

methyl orange (MO) > methylene blue (MB) > Rhodamine B (RB) > Congo red (CR) > 

methyl violet (MV) > amido black 10B (AB). Removal efficiency of all the adsorbents is 

quite effective, but orange peel found to be very effective compared to other low cost 

adsorbent within the short period. The sorption data were then correlated with the freundlich 

and the langmuir adsorption isotherm models. In both isotherms exhibited a maximum K 

value in which indicates that the orange peel has greater affinity for methylene blue. The 

maximum color removal efficiencies of orange peel at dosage of 1.0g for time duration of 45 

min found to be 99% of the dye from an aqueous solution of 12.32 ppm. From the study it is 

understood that pH, contact time and adsorbent dosage plays a vital role in removal of dye. 

Keywords: Adsorbent, Methylene blue, pH, Orange peel, Neem leaves, Banana peel. 

1 Introduction 

Dyes are chemicals, which on binding with a material will give color to them. Dyes are ionic, 

aromatic organic compounds with structures including aryl rings, which have delocalized 

electron systems. The color of dye provided by the presence of a chromophore group. A 

chromophore is a radical configuration consisting of conjugated double bonds containing 

delocalized electrons. The Chromogen, which is the aromatic structure normally containing 

benzene, naphthalene or anthracene rings, is part of a chromogen-chromophore structure 

along with an auxochrome. The presence of ionising groups known as auxochromes results in 

a much stronger alteration of the maximum absorption of the compound and provides a 

bonding affinity. Colored dye wastewater arises as a direct result of the production of the dye 

and because of its use in the textile and other industries. There are more than 100,000 

commercially available dyes with over 7 x 10 5 of dyes produced annually worldwide [1-2]. 

Dyes are widely used in industries such as textile, rubber, paper, plastic, cosmetic etc. Among 

these various industries, textile ranks first in usage of dyes for coloration of fiber. The 

convectional biological treatment process is not very effective in treating a dyes wastewater, 

due to low biodegradation of dyes. It is usually treated by either physical or chemical 

Received on March 2011 Published on April 2011 1499


processes. However, these processes were very expensive and could not be effectively used 

to treat the wide range of dyes waste [Grag et al, 2003]. 

The adsorption process is one of the effective methods for removal dyes from the waste 

effluent. The process of adsorption has an edge over the other methods due to its sludge free 

clean operation and completely removed dyes, even from the diluted solution. Activated 

carbon (powdered or granular) is the most widely used adsorbents because it has excellent 

adsorption efficiency for the organic compound. Nevertheless, commercially available 

activated carbon is very expensive. Furthermore, regeneration using solution produced small 

additional effluent while regeneration by refractory technique results in a 10-15% loss of 

adsorbents and its uptake capacity [Shaobin Wang et al, 2005]. The sorption data have been 

correlated with adsorption isotherm to determine the efficiency of adsorption process. 

Numerous researchers worked earlier on variety of adsorpents as mentioned below. Wool 

Fiber and Cotton Fiber [Rasheed Khan et al, 2005], Banana pith [Namasivayam et al, 

1993a,1993b], Biogas residual slurry [Namasivayam et al, 1992a], Carbonized coir pith 

[Namasivayam et al, 2001a], Coir pith [Namasivayam et al, 2001b,2002], Chitosan [Juang et 

al, 1996], Hardwood [Asfour et al, 1985], Mahogany sawdust, rice husk [Namasivayam et 

al,1992b], Parthenium hysterophorus [Rajeshwarisivaraj et al, 2002], Neem (Azadirachta 

Indica) husk [Alau et al, 2010], Rice husk [Singh et al, 2001], Rice husk [Guo et al, 2003], 

Silk cotton hull, coconut tree sawdust [Kadirvelu et al, 2003], Gypsum [Muhammad Rauf et 

al, 2009], Tuberose Sticks [Ahsan habib et al, 2006], Tamarind Fruit Shell[Papita Saha 2010]. 

2 Experimental Investigations 

2.1 Preparation of the Adsorbent 

Adsorbents like Orange Peel, Neem leaves and Banana peel collected from the local areas of 

Thanjavur District. The peels and leaves collected and dried at low temperature (


Table 2: Physical Properties of Adsorbents 

No. Parameter Value 

Orange Peel Neem Banana Activeted 

Leaves Peel Carbon 

01. Moisture Content (%) 38.50 11.10 7.70 30.00 

02. Ash Content (%) 17.80 4.30 5.60 30.00 

03. Volatile Content (%) 43.70 84.60 86.70 40.00 

04. Specific Gravity 3.22 2.85 3.13 1.83 

05. Fineness Modulus 3.24 3.128 3.02 2.17 

06. Particle size (mm) 0.150 0.186 0.200 0.002 

07. Void ratio 0.75 0.75 0.36 0.50 

08. Particle Density (g/cc) 1.44 0.56 0.92 1.90 

2.3 Calibration of Methylene Blue 

The synthetic dye sample calibrated in order to find out various optical densities at various 

concentrations. The calibrated results are very effective to identify the respective color 

removal capacities of various adsorbents Figure1 showing the graphical representation of 

Calibration of Methylene Blue. 

Figure 1: Calibration of Methylene Blue. 

Velmurugan. P, Rathina kumar. V, Dhinakaran. G 

International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 1 No.7, 2011 

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2.4 Effect of time on various adsorbents 

In each adsorption experiment, 20 ml of dye solution of known concentration and pH was 

added to 0.1g of adsorbents in 250 ml round bottom flask at room temperature and the 

mixture was stirred on a rotary orbital shaker at 150 rpm. The sample withdrawn from the 

shaker at the pre determined time intervals for 10 minutes each. At the end of 10 min, the 

agitated sample taken from the shaker and tested for its optical density using the UV-Visible 

Spectrophotometer. The corresponding Optical Density interpolated with the initial 

calibration values in order to find out color removal efficiency of the adsorbent. From the 

Comparative results, it is clearly known that, the effect of duration plays a very important 

role in adsorption process of color removal. All the adsorbents are quite effective, but Orange 

peel found to be very effective next to activated Carbon. The color removal efficiencies of the 

adsorbents have a break through at 60 minutes duration, in which there is no further color 

removal takes place. Orange Peel found to be very effective with color removing efficiency 

of 96%. The results of present study are compared with results of Papita Saha 2010, who has 

done experiments with Tamarind shell. It is inferred from the comparison that, upto the 

duration of 40 min, orange peel showed lesser efficiency and after 40 min it shows higher 

efficiency than the Tamarind shell. The comparative results of efficiency of various adsorbent 

with respect to time given in Figure 2. However, activated carbon performs well when 

compared to all these low cost adsorbents. 

Figure 2: Comparative results of various adsorbents on to Effect of Time 

2.5 Effect of adsorbent dosage on various adsorbents 

20 ml of the stock solution of 1000 ppm taken and with varied amount (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1 g) 

of adsorbent fed into the 250ml round bottom flask and kept for agitation at 150 rpm using 

rotary orbital shakers for the regular interval of 45 minutes. At the end, the agitated sample 

taken from the shaker and tested for its optical density using the UV-Visible 

Spectrophotometer. The corresponding Optical Density interpolated with the initial 

calibration values in order to find out color removal efficiency of the adsorbent. From the 

Comparative results, it is clearly understood that the Effect of Adsorbent Dosage is also plays 

a very vital role in adsorption process for color removal. Among the three adsorbents, Orange 



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peel found to be very effective next to Activated Carbon. Therefore, from the two parameters 

such as Effect of Time and Effect of Adsorbent dosage, Orange peel found to be an excellent 

adsorbent compared to Neem leaves and Banana Peel. The maximum color removal 

efficiencies of Orange peel, Neem leaves and Banana Peel at dosage of 1 g for a time 

duration of 45 minutes is found to be 98.76, 97.77 and 97.93 respectively Figure 3 Showing 

the graphical representation of comparative results various adsorbent with respect to 

adsorbent dosage. 

Figure 3: Comparative results of various Adsorbents on to Effect of Adsorbent Dosage 

2.6 Effect of pH on Orange Peel for Color Removal 

In Order to find the effect of pH, series of experiments conducted at various pH values from 

2-4 and 8-10 in acidic and alkaline conditions respectively. However, the initial pH of the 

stock solution prepared was 6.50 at 1000 ppm. The value of pH controlled by addition of 

sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid. For the present research, the stock solution of 20 ml 

taken and 0.1 g of adsorbent fed into round bottom flask and kept for rotary orbital shaker at 

150 rpm. The sample withdrawn from the shaker at the pre determined time intervals for 10 

minutes each. At the end of each 10 minutes the agitated sample is taken from the shaker and 

tested for its optical density using the UV-Visible Spectrophotometer. 

Effect of pH under acidic condition imparts a new color (greenish yellow) in which the 

respective optical density found to be more than 4.00, because of some acidic elements 

already present in the orange peel. Again some sample was analyzed at the pH of 4, the value 

of the optical density is slightly above the calibration value of the Methylene blue. Hence 

color removal under acidic condition using orange peel as an adsorbent found to be 

insignificant, where as for alkaline condition it is significant. Effect of pH and different 

dosage of adsorbent under alkaline conditions are depicted in Figures 4 and 5. 



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Figure 4: Effect of pH under alkaline conditions at regular time interval. 

Figure 5: Effect of pH under alkaline conditions at various adsorbent dosages 

2.7 Column Study using Orange peel 

The column tests carried out in a micro-glass column with inside diameter of 12.5 mm, 

length 750 mm with a capacity of 50 ml. By using column study burette found to be very 

economical and there is no external driven force applied to the system. Series of burettes 

operated in a parallel way and filled with 10 ml of adsorbent and 40 ml of adsorbate. A thin 

layer of very fine particles of sand of diameter of 0.7 mm with the depth of 50 mm placed at 

the bottom in order to remove the foreign and dust particles. Figure 6 shows experimental 

setup of column study. 

Particle size plays a foremost role in adsorption process especially in the column studies and 

the particle size of the adsorbent is 0.6 mm. The effluent of the first column considered as the 

influent of the second column with time interval of 60 minutes each. The results are shown in 

Figure 7. 

The effluent from the each burette was taken and measured for its optical density. In order to 

correct for any adsorption of color by the container, control experiments carried out without 

adsorbents. It was found that there was no adsorption by the container walls. Similarly same 

test were carried out by using the filling material and was found that no adsorption took place, 

and the entire column tests conducted at room temperature only. 



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Figure 6: Series of column tests conducted using burettes 

Figure 7: Efficiency of color removal using orange peel as adsorbent 

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 

The study of isotherm data is important to find out the adsorption capacity of various 

adsorbents. In order to investigate the adsorption isotherm, two equilibrium isotherms were 

analyzed: Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms are used for fitting the experimental data in 

adsorption studies to understand the extent and degree of favorability of adsorption. 

3.1 Freundlich Isotherm 

The equilibrium adsorption isotherms are of fundamental importance in the design of 

adsorption systems. The equilibrium adsorption data could be satisfactory by the Freudlich 

isotherm 

x/m = K.C 1/n 

where x is the amount adsorbed per mass of adsorbent (m), Co is the initial concentration of 

the solution (ppm), C is the equilibrium concentration (ppm), and K and n are Freudlich 



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constants. The constant K, partition coefficient in equilibrium is positively related to the 

extent of degree of adsorption, while then constant „n‟ provides a rough estimation of the 

intensity of adsorption. A linear form of the Freundlich expression will yield the constants K 

and n hence: 

log x/m = log K+1/n log C 

The analysis and design of adsorption separation process require the relevant adsorption 

equilibrium, which is the most important piece of information in understanding the 

adsorption process. The adsorption isotherms are equilibrium equation and apply to 

condition resulting after the adsorbate-containing phase has seen in contact with the 

adsorbent of sufficient time to reach equilibrium [Tan et al, 2010]. The adsorption capacity of 

any adsorbent may be determined by the used of an adsorption isotherm. Knowledge of 

adsorption capacity of an adsorbent material such as lignite enables the designer to develop 

treatment systems for particular adsorbate/adsorbent systems [Allen et al, 1989]. 

Freudlich constants were determined from the graphs plotted for log (X/M) in ordinate and 

log Ce in abscissa. Table 3 shows the Orange peel has the maximum K value followed by 

Banana Peel and Neem leaves. The higher value of K (0.775mg/g) indicates that Orange Peel 

have greater affinity for methylene blue compared with other adsorbents. The adsorption 

intention „n‟ is found to 1.50, 0.612 and 1.273 for Orange peel, Neem leaves and Banana peel 

respectively. It is observed that all the adsorbents do not satisfy the condition of 

heterogeneity, i.e., 1


per unit weight of adsorbent in forming a complete monolayer on the surface and k is the 

constant related to the energy. By plotting Ce versus Ce/Qe, a curve is obtained which is 

linear at low equilibrium concentrations, followed by a curvature and with an asymptotic 

tendency to saturation corresponding to a monolayer covering. 

Table 4: Langmuir Constants for various adsorbents 

Sl.No Name of the a (l/mg) K (l/g) R 2 

Adsorbent 

1. Orange Peel 0.00502 10,000 0.08368 

2. Neem leaves -0.00903 -3,333.33 0.5529 

3. Banana Peel 0.00411 10,000 0.0769 

4. Activated Carbon -0.00370 -33,333.33 0.0402 

From the Table 4 , the higher value of K (10,000) indicates that the amount of methylene 

blue per unit weight of adsorbent seem to significantly higher than Neem leaves, in which 

both orange peel and Banana peel have same values. Neem leaves is found to very non-linear, 

this will normally occur after dye particles fill the available monolayer in the adsorbents. 

This non-linearity may also be due to any primary expansion of adsorbent while will give 

way to a secondary or tertiary expansion which can occur at much reduced rates. From the 

results the higher value of K from Orange peel is found to be very effective followed by 

Banana peel and Neem leaves, which confirmes the result obtained from the Freudlich 

Isotherm that Orange peel has the maximum K value followed by Banana peel and Neem 

leaves. The plots showing results between log(X/M) and log (Ce) is given in Figure 8 for 

Freundlich Isotherm and between Ce/Qe and Ce is given in Figure 9 for Langmuir Isotherm. 

Figure 8: Freudlich Isotherm using Orange Peel 



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Figure 9: Langmuir Isotherm using Orange Peel 

4 Conclusions 

From the results of the present study, it is concluded that, the adsorption process is a very 

effective process for the decolorization of textile wastewater, as we can reach 97% 

decolorization in few minutes. There is a need to enhance the adsorption process effectively 

by varying parameters so as to bring down the values to permissible limits for wastewater 

before discharging it to the water environment. The removal of color from aqueous solutions 

and wastewaters using activated carbon and three low cost sorbent materials orange peel, 

neem leaves and banana peel was studied by studying the effect of time, adsorbent dosage 

and pH. A separate column study was conducted in which, flow was due to gravity. Two 

types of isotherms were investigated, namely the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. 

The adsorption studies revealed that the optimum time adsorption of Orange Peel, Neem 

leaves and Banana peel was found to be 60 minutes and adsorbent dosage was 1 g for all the 

three adsorbents. The isotherm analysis revealed that orange peel prepared under nominal 

treatment was found to be very effective than the Neem leaves and Banana Peel. Adsorption 

was an effective process for decolorization of textile wastewaters. Although activated carbon 

was the most effective sorbent, other low cost sorbents could be used for color removal. The 

final choice of the sorbent is a matter of economics. Batch studies and column studies 

confirm that these low cost materials can be used as a substitute for high cost adsorbent. 



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