Utilizing Chamaerops humilis in removing methylene blue dye from water: an effective approach

Abstract

Removing dyes, particularly methylene blue, from wastewater is crucial due to their detrimental effects on environmental and human health. Adsorption, recognized as a simple and efficient technique, is frequently employed to eliminate various dyes from water. Although activated carbon is a favored adsorbent for wastewater treatment, its high cost often restricts its use. As a result, there is increasing interest in utilizing inexpensive, natural materials, and waste products as alternative adsorbents. Sawdust from the European fan palm tree, specifically Chamaerops humilis, a widely available and cost-effective by-product, has demonstrated effective dye removal from wastewater. This study explored the impact of various factors such as time, agitation, adsorbent quantity, dye concentration, pH, and temperature on the adsorption of methylene blue using Chamaerops humilis sawdust. Optimal dye adsorption conditions were identified at a temperature of 25 °C, a pH of 8, an adsorbent dosage of 100 mg, a contact time of 120 min, and a dye concentration of 20 mg L⁻¹, achieving a removal efficiency of 93.5%. Moreover, the Langmuir isotherm model described the adsorption dynamics more accurately, suggesting a maximum sorption capacity of 22.7 mg g⁻¹ for the sawdust. Additionally, adsorption kinetics aligned better with the pseudo-second-order model than the pseudo-first-order model, underscoring the efficacy of this method in treating dye-polluted water.