Efficient removal of Methylene Blue on Aeglemarmelos leaves: Equilibrium, Kinetics and Thermodynamic Studies.

Activated carbon(ACBTL) was prepared by chemical activation of  bael  tree leaves ( Aeglemarmelos) at 450 o C  using  phosphoric acid. Characterization of the sample was performed by using nitrogen adsorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The effects of major variables governing the efficiency of the process such as temperature, time, dosage and pH were investigated. Experimental results have shown that, the percentage removal increased with increasing temperature, time, dosage and pH.The adsorption kinetic data were analysed using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. It was found that the pseudo-second order kinetic model was the most appropriate model, describing the adsorption kinetics. Equilibrium data were fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich models. The equilibrium data were best represented by the Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption was spontaneous, endothermic and entropy controlled.