Decolourisation of Methylene Blue using Activated Carbon from Coffee Residue as a Low Cost Adsorbent

Activated carbon derived from coffee residues was utilized in this study. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out for the removal of methylene blue cationic dye from aqueous solution using different activated carbon samples. The activated carbon samples undergone two methods which are chemical and physical activation processes. The samples are classified by their carbonization time (min) and measure of the different concentration (w/v %) of phosphoric acid as the activating agent. The impregnation percentage of 0.6% and 0.8% were applied on the coffee residue to observe its influence on the capacity adsorption of methylene blue. The adsorption process coincides with removal of dye percentage and total dye uptake equations while the factors influencing percentage removal of the adsorbate and adsorption capacity of the absorbent such as type of adsorbents, amount of absorbents, and time of contact were investigated. The highest percentage removal and adsorption capacity are 101.1% (at dosage = 0.5 g) and 1.996 mg/g (at dosage = 0.25 g) respectively were obtained after shaken at 100 rpm, for 12 h. The results show the high efficiency of the absorbent and thus expected to be a good candidate as an absorbent for water treatment.