Adsorption of methylene blue dye onto low cost adsorbent, cocoa seeds shell powder using a fixed bed column.

The main objective of the paper is to investigate the continual elimination of Methylene Blue from aqueous solutions through adsorption on a fixed bed column containing Cocoa seeds shell Powder. The properties of Cocoa seeds shell Powder are analyzed with FTIR/SEM/XRD studies. The study considered various parameters, including flow rate (ranging from 1 to 3 ml/min), bed height (1 to 3 cm), & incipient concentration (10 to 50 mg/l). Among the different conditions tested, the highest uptake of Methylene Blue was observed at a flow rate of 3 ml/min, a bed height of 3 cm, and an incipient concentration of 50 mg/l. The breakthrough time decreased from 180 to 80 minutes as the flow rate increased from 1 to 3 ml/min, and the breakthrough curve (BTC) decreased from 245 to 35 minutes with an increase in the incipient concentration from 10 to 50 mg/l. On the other hand, with an increment in bed height from 1 to 3 cm, the breakthrough time improved from 80 to 125 minutes. Experimental data from the column under different conditions were analyzed using various models and the results were found to be satisfactory. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that Cocoa seeds shell Powder can serve as an effective, low-cost adsorbent with a high capacity for dye uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]