Preparation of baobab shell activated carbon/hematite composite for enhanced adsorption of Congo red dye from aqueous medium

Zuliat O. Opadiran; Mojeed O. Bello; Nasiru Abdus-Salam

doi:10.61298/rans.2026.4.2.356

Authors

Zuliat O. Opadiran
Department of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria;

Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Nigeria
Mojeed O. Bello
[email protected]

Department of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria
Nasiru Abdus-Salam
Department of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria

Keywords:

Adsorption, Activated carbon, Baobab, Congo red, Composite

Abstract

Baobab shell activated carbon (BAC), hematite (HEM), and a hematite--baobab shell activated carbon composite (HB) were prepared for the adsorption of Congo red (CR) from an aqueous medium. Physicochemical and spectroscopic investigations were performed on the individual adsorbents and the composite. The effects of concentration, dosage, pH, and contact time on the adsorptive removal process were evaluated. The equilibrium data for BAC and HB fitted the Langmuir isotherm model well, with R² values of 0.9954 and 0.9292, respectively. HEM was best described by the Freundlich model (R²= 0.9243), but also showed a good fit to the Langmuir model (R²= 0.8747). The Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacities of BAC, HEM, and HB, which are close to the experimental values, were 322.58, 158.73, and 172.41 mg/g, respectively. The pseudo-second-order model best described the adsorption kinetics, suggesting a chemisorption process. BAC, HEM, and HB can be effectively employed in the remediation of wastewater containing anionic dyes such as Congo red. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity of hematite can be enhanced by adding baobab shell activated carbon because of the high adsorption efficiency of BAC alone towards the dye.

Dimensions

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