BISORPTION OF METHYL ORANGE FROM ACQUEOUS SOLUTION ONTO BEANS POD :A LOWCOST ADSORBENT

ABSTRACT The efficacy of beans pod as an adsorbent for the biosorption of methyl orange dye from aqueous solution was studied using the Batch Adsorption method. The following parameters were varied: contact time (30 – 150 min), initial dye concentration (0.1 – 1.0 g/l), pH (2 – 10.4), and adsorbent dose (1– 5.0g) at a constant temperature of about 30 °C (303 K). The equilibrium time for the adsorption process was established within 100 mins. Maximum adsorption of 70% for methyl orange solution was achieved at pH 6-7. The value of the adsorption capacity indicated that beans pod waste powder could be used as a potential alternative for removing methyl orange dyes from aqueous solutions. The discharge of dyes is one of the major water pollution which can cause severe damage to both human beings and animal. Hence, the need for treatment of wastewater containing dyes. The properties and morphology of the bean pod were studied using Ultravioloent (UV) spectrocopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FTIR).