Apricot seed shell: an agro-waste biosorbent for acid blue193 dye adsorption

Abstract

AbstractLocally available apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) seed shell wastes were utilized for the preparation of an efficient dye biosorbent. The as-prepared apricot seed shell powder (ASP) was thoroughly characterized using FTIR, SEM-EDX, XRD, BET surface area, and pHPZC measurements to elucidate its functional groups, as well as its surface texture morphology and charge. The effect of several process variables (such as contact time, biosorbent dosage, pH, temperature, and initial concentration) on the dye uptake capacity was also investigated. Based on the experimental finding, the following optimum process conditions were established in the study: pH 2.0, 0.2 g/L adsorbent mass, 30 °C, and time of 120 min. The BET surface area, pore volume, and average pore size of the ASP were estimated as 97.493 m2/g, 0.0691 cm3/g, and 1.922 nm, respectively. The experimental equilibrium and kinetic data were properly described by the Temkin isotherm and pseudo-first-order kinetics model, respectively. Therefore, the effectiveness of ASP as an acid blue 193 dye biosorbent was established in the study.