Enhanced adsorption of acid Blue-25 dye onto chitosan/porous carbon composite modified in 1-allyl-3-methyl imidazolium bromide ionic liquid

In this study, chitosan/porous carbon composite (C-PC) modified in 1-Allyl-3-methyl imidazolium bromide [AMIM][Br] under airtight condition was prepared for the removal of Acid Blue-25 dye (AB-25) from aqueous medium. For comparison of adsorption efficiency of C-PC, chitosan-activated carbon composite (C-AC) was also prepared in 1% acetic acid. The adsorbents were characterised using SEM, EDX, XRD, BET, TGA and FTIR. The micrograph of C-PC revealed cavities and slightly rough surfaces dominated with similar sized and irregular shaped stone-like materials which differ from the precursors' micrograph. BET analysis revealed the domination of mesopores on the C-PC and C-AC surfaces, as the hydroxyl and amino group on C-PC are the main active sites for AB-25 dye uptake. The dye was better adsorbed onto C-PC at pH 2 and C-AC at pH 4. The adsorption capacity obtained for C-PC, C-AC, activated carbon (AC) and chitosan (CH) using Langmuir isotherm model are 3333.33 mg/g, 909.90 mg/g, 909.09 mg/g and 833.33 mg/g, respectively. The experimental data are well described by Langmuir and Fruendlich isotherms for adsorption of the dye onto C-PC, AC and CH. C-AC fitted into Langmuir isotherm only. The kinetics of the adsorption fitted into pseudo-second order indicating the possibility of chemical interactions in the adsorption process.