Removal of malachite green from aqueous solution using chemically treated activated carbon

Authors

  • Muaz Zahid Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Hafiz Muhammad Anwaar Asghar Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Syed Muhammad Shahid Hussain Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54693/piche.05313

Abstract

The increasing discharge of dye waste water from Pakistan textile industries causes serious environmental problems. This study focus to explore an efficient method to remove malachite green dye through chemically treated activate carbon derived with (coal waste and calcium silicate).This study examines the effectiveness of activated carbon under controlled conditions and looks into how acid and alkali modifications affect the material adsorption capabilities. Several Batch adsorption experiments have been conducted by varying factors like adsorbent type and contact time. Langmuir and Freundlich model isotherms have been used to access the adsorbents performance, and pseudo first order and second order have been used to investigate adsorption. The acid treated activated carbon gives the highest dye removal efficiency attaining 80% removal efficiency in a short period of time. While the kinetic data more closely matched the pseudo-second-order model, indicating that chemisorption is the predominant process, the equilibrium data better fit the Langmuir isotherm, indicating monolayer adsorption onto a homogenous surface. Because of its increased surface area and pore structure, these data demonstrate how well acid-treated activated carbon adsorbs dye molecules. This study helps to develop cost-effective and environmentally friendly wastewater treatment strategies in dye-intensive industries. In conclusion, acid-treated activated carbon offers a promising, sustainable solution for industrial dye wastewater treatment. Its high removal efficiency and rapid adsorption kinetics make it a suitable candidate for large-scale applications.

Published

2025-07-26

How to Cite

Muaz Zahid, Hafiz Muhammad Anwaar Asghar, & Syed Muhammad Shahid Hussain. (2025). Removal of malachite green from aqueous solution using chemically treated activated carbon. Journal of the Pakistan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 53(1). https://doi.org/10.54693/piche.05313