OPTIMIZATION OF METHYLENE BLUE DYE REMOVAL BY PEANUT HUSK USING PLACKETT-BURMAN DESIGN AND RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

Abstract

The ability of peanut husk in removing Methylene Blue (MB) dye solution was studied in this project. The influence of various factors such as contact time, initial dye concentrations, pH and adsorbent dosage were examined in this project in order to study their effects towards the adsorption process. The percentage uptake of MB increases with contact time, pH and adsorbent dosage while it decreases with increasing initial dye concentrations. The functional group on peanut husk was determined using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) and its surface morphology was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) analysis. The experimental data fitted well into the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with R² values close to unity. The experimental data is best fitted with Freundlich isotherm model by having R² of 0.9927. By using Plackett-Burman design, the factors that can bring significant impact towards the adsorption of MB by peanut husks were determined to be contact time, pH and adsorbent dosage. The optimum condition for the adsorption process was determined by Response Surface Methodology. It was found that the optimum condition was reached at 120 minutes of contact time, pH 10 and 0.035 g of adsorbent.