Polymeric styrene-divinylbenzene resin Amberlyst-15: A novel, smart and alternative adsorbent for the removal of cationic methylene blue dye from aqueous solution

Abstract

In this study, the removal of methylene blue, which is frequently used in textile industry, from aqueous solution under appropriate adsorption conditions was investigated for the first time using Amberlyst-15, a polymeric styrene-divinylbenzene resin as adsorbent. Adsorption studies were carried out under different experimental conditions such as pH, contact time, initial dye concentration, adsorbent amount and temperature. The highest removal percentage in methylene blue removal studies with Amberlyst-15 was computed as 98.90 % for 100 ppm methylene blue using 1.0 g/L adsorbent. Adsorption isotherm data were analyzed using different isotherm models and isotherm constants were calculated. It was seen that the performed isotherm studies were compatible with the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacity calculated by using the Langmuir isotherm equation was 178.57 mg/g for Amberlyst-15. Adsorption kinetic studies were evaluated with pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion model. The suitability of pseudo-second order kinetic model was determined for Amberlyst-15. In addition, thermodynamic parameters were investigated and FTIR analysis was performed to determine the functional groups responsible for adsorption. These results suggested that Amberlyst15 polymeric resin is a promising candidate and new adsorbent for methylene blue and other dyes removal from wastewater. This study is to reveal that Amberlyst-15 can be used as an alternative and efficient sorbent in the removal of other dyes and pollutant species in wastewater via examining the suitability of Amberlyst-15 in the removal of methylene blue.