Applied Chemical Engineering

Green synthesis of ricinus communis leaf adsorbents for methylene blue dye removal: Adsorption, regeneration, and reuse

Zamn Saad Saadon

Department of Medical Physics/ Al-Turath University/ Baghdad/Iraq

Ghufran Lutfi Ismaeel

Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Al-Ameed/ Karbala/ Iraq

Ali Fawzi Al-Hussainy

College of Pharmacy / Ahl Al Bayt University / Kerbala / Iraq

Rasha Khalaf

Warka University College/ Basrah, Iraq

Jaber Hameed Hussain

Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, Al-Nisour University, Nisour Seq. Karkh, Baghdad, Iraq

Yassir Mohammed Nasr

Mazaya university college/ Iraq

Hani Mueen

Department of Nursing, Al-Zahrawi University College, Karbala, Iraq

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ace.v8i3.5718

Keywords: Activated carbon; removal; adsorption; agricultural waste; ricinus communis

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Abstract

This study evaluated the potential of using Ricinus communis Leaves, which are often regarded as agricultural waste, as a source of activated carbon for removing organic dyes like methylene blue (MB) from water solutions. This approach presents a practical and cost-effective method for converting a waste product into a valuable resource. The castor plant was activated using hydrochloric acid to enhance its surface area and efficiency. Various process parameters were assessed, including the concentration of the initial dye, the weight of the activated carbon, and the pH of the solution. The experimental results showed a significant increase in dye removal efficiency from 68.22% to 97.23% as the adsorbent dosage increased from 0.01 g to 0.1 g. This improvement is attributed to the increased number of available active sites on the activated carbon surface, which enhances the interaction between the adsorbent and the dye molecules. Additionally, the results showed that the removal rate (%) of MB dye decreased significantly as the initial concentration of the dye increased, while the removal rate improved with a greater amount of activated carbon. This study suggests that biomass derived from activated carbon is a promising, cost-effective alternative for dye adsorption, potentially offering a better solution than conventional activated carbon methods. Overall, this research emphasizes the importance of optimizing surface efficiency for effective dye removal. Furthermore, a comparison between unactivated Ricinus communis leaves and activated carbon was also conducted.

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