Utilization of Raw and Treated Arundo donax L. Biosorbents for the Removal of Industrial Dye from Aqueous Solutions ^†

Abstract

This study involved the preparation of treated Arundo donax L. biomasses by combining specific amounts of raw Arundo donax L. powder with predetermined volumes of phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄), ammonia (NH₄OH), and acetone (C₃H₆O) individually. These treated Arundo donax L. biomasses were employed for adsorbing Bemacid red dye. Various techniques, including SEM, RX, and FTIR analysis, were employed to characterize the treated Arundo donax L. The impact of contact time, pH, initial dye concentration, and adsorbent amount on the adsorption of Bemacid red dye onto the various treated Arundo donax L. samples was investigated. The optimal conditions for adsorption were identified as a pH value of 2.0, an adsorbent amount of 25 mg, and a contact time of 40 min. Notably, the basic treated Arundo donax L. achieved an impressive dye removal efficiency of 98.91% under these optimal conditions. Additionally, the adsorption process was analyzed using isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic models. The Freundlich model provided the most accurate description of the removal of Bemacid red dye by the different treated Arundo donax L. samples. Meanwhile, the Elovich model and the second-order kinetic model offered reliable descriptions at concentrations of 10 and 20–30 mg/L, respectively. In conclusion, the adsorption of Bemacid red dye by treated Arundo donax L. was found to be feasible and occurred spontaneously.