Abstract
The feasibility of using loquat seeds (LS) for the sorption of Rhodamine B (RhB) from aqueous solutions has been investigated in the absence and presence of ultrasound and by combining concurrently ultrasonic irradiation and mechanical stirring. Batch sorption studies were conducted to study the effects of various parameters such as sorbent dose, initial dye concentration and ultrasonic power on RhB sorption. The obtained results show that both the rate and amount of RhB sorption were drastically improved in the presence of ultrasound. The dye sorption with the assistance of ultrasound was enhanced with the increase of sorbate initial concentration and ultrasonic power, and with the decrease of sorbent dosage. The simultaneous association of ultrasound and stirring leads to an intensification of the sorption. Equilibrium data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson models by using non-linear regression technique. The sorption equilibrium data were best represented by the Langmuir and Redlich-Peterson isotherms for the conventional and combined methods. In the presence of ultrasound alone, the Redlich-Peterson model yields a better fit than the Langmuir model. LS was shown to be an efficient sorbent for the removal of RhB from aqueous solutions.
► The feasibility of using loquat seeds for the sorption of Rhodamine B was investigated. ► Batch sorption studies were conducted in the absence and presence of ultrasound. ► The sorption of dye was drastically improved in the presence of ultrasound. ► Coupling of ultrasound and stirring for the sorption process was shown to be of interest.