Selective adsorption of multi-dye ions by Citrus Peel: Characterization, Performance, Regeneration

The irrefutable harmful components of wastewater originating from the textile industry are dyes. For this reason, it is accepted as an important environmental and health problem. A large number of natural adsorbents have been used for the efficient removal of industry-sourced dyes. In this study, removability was investigated of methylene blue (MB) and reactive black-5 (RB-5) which are used as dyestuffs in many industries by using Citrus Peel (CP), which is an environmentally friendly, economical, and easily accessible adsorbent with high removal potential. For this purpose, the batch adsorption method was applied to remove dyes from industrial synthetic wastewater. The main parameters affecting the adsorption process such as initial dye doses, citrus peel amount, pH, and contact time were studied in single, double, and triple combinations. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to determine the properties of the Citrus Peel surface before and after adsorption. Citrus Peel was regenerated after loading with dyestuffs and its reusability was investigated. The results obtained show that the removal efficiency of raw Citrus Peel is highly dependent on the dye types and reveals that it can be an effective adsorbent to remove these dyes.