Sorption properties of iron impregnated activated carbon web for removal of methylene blue from aqueous media

In this study, impregnation of iron chloride was carried out on needle punched web of waste acrylic fibers, which was subsequently carbonized under layer of charcoal by physical activation in high temperature furnace to produce iron impregnated activated carbon (FeAC). For comparison purpose, one more sample of activated carbon (AC) was prepared without impregnation of iron chloride. Both the webs were carbonized at 1200 °C with no holding time, and characterization of BET surface area, SEM morphology, EDX elemental analysis, XRD crystalline structure was performed. The FeAC web was used as adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution. The dye removal percentage was investigated at different experimental parameters like different dye concentrations, adsorbent dosage, stirring speed and different pH. The obtained results were analyzed using linear and non-linear forms of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and adsorption kinetics (i.e. pseudo first order and pseudo second order model).