Elimination of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Medium Using an Agricultural Waste Product of Crude Corn Silk (Stylus maydis) and Corn Silk Treated with Sulphuric Acid

Abstract

AbstractThe objective of this study is to employ an adsorption technology to remove methylene blue from the aqueous solution. Methylene blue is one of the dyestuffs that are discharged to wastewater after being used extensively in the industry and creating pollution. A residue of an agricultural product called corn silk was employed in the adsorption process, along with corn silk that had been sulphuric acid‐treated. Using methods like FT‐IR, SEM, EDX, and TGA, the structures of crude corn silk (CCS) and modified corn silk (MCS) were clarified. The ideal adsorption conditions for both adsorbents were found to be equilibrium contact period, pH, the dose of adsorbent, and beginning methylene blue concentration. At 293, 313, and 333 K, adsorption kinetic and isotherm experiments were conducted. It was determined that both adsorptions were compatible with the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model kinetically and the Freundlich isotherm model isothermally with higher R2 values. At 333 K, the maximum adsorption capacities (qm) of CCS and MCS were calculated to be respectively 59.5 mg g−1 and 400 mg g−1. The findings demonstrated that although crude corn silk adsorbs methylene blue, sulphuric acid treatment greatly increases its adsorption ability.