Manihot esculenta Peel Powder: Effective Adsorbent for Removal of Various Textile Dyes from Aqueous Solutions

Abstract This investigation is aimed to examine the efficiency of dye removal by activated carbon prepared from the peel of Manihot esculenta, which is commonly known as cassava, a waste obtained from sago industries. The effluents containing reactive, direct, acid, alkali, or sulfur dyes were treated with the carbon obtained from cassava peels, which were activated thermally as well as by using acid, alkali, and silver nitrate (AgNO3). The characterization of these carbons was done, and the effect of the parameters pH, concentration, contact time, adsorption dosage, and temperature were studied for each carbon and dye removal. The results of the study indicate that AgNO3-impregnated carbon is more effective in removing the dyes. The equilibrium time is found to be 150 min for reactive, direct, and sulfur dyes and 180 min for acid and basic dyes. The highest percentage dye removal of around 90 % is achieved with AgNO3-impregnated carbon, and the lowest is achieved with alkali-treated carbon. Next to AgNO3-impregnated carbon, acid-treated carbon demonstrates effective dye removal followed by thermally activated carbon and alkali-treated carbon. AgNO3-activated carbon was found to be most effective in removing the basic dye. The order of effectiveness for AgNO3-treated carbon is basic dye > direct dye > sulfur dye > acid dye > reactive dye. The characterization results of AgNO3-activated carbon corroborate its effectiveness in dye removal by indicating greater surface area and higher porosity.