Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate and optimize the removal of methylene blue onto low cost starting material activated carbon. The effects of pH, contact time, initial concentration on adsorption process were investigated. Results showed that effective adsorption was occurred in the pH range of 5-12. The maximum adsorption capacity (140.03 mg/g) was obtained at contact time 480 min, at initial methylene blue concentration of 150 ppm. Adsorption kinetics of methylene blue was analyzed by pseudo first order, pseudo second order and intraparticle diffusion models. Results showed that methylene blue adsorption onto activated carbon followed second order kinetics models most appropriately. Thermodynamic parameters; Delta G degrees, Delta H degrees and Delta S degrees indicate that the sorption process was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The magnitude of Delta G degrees was -6.27 to -12 kJ/mol, the standard enthalpy and the entropy values in the range of 25-50 degrees C were obtained as 44.13 kJ mol(-1) and 158.3 kJ mol(-1) K-1.