Utilization of bivalve shell-treated Zea mays l. (Maize) husk leaf as a low-cost biosorbent for enhanced adsorption of malachite green

• Main Authors: Abdul Jalil, Aishah, Triwahyono, Sugeng, Yaakob, M. R., Azmi, Zahra, Sapawe, Norzahir, Kamarudin, Noraziahtulhidayu, Setiabudi, Herma Dina, Nik Jaafar, Nik Fazlin Hiryati, M. Sidik, Saima, Adam, Siti Hazirah, Hameed, Bassim Hamid
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier Ltd. 2012
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/47704/; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.06.066

In this work, two low-cost wastes, bivalve shell (BS) and Zea mays L. husk leaf (ZHL), were investigated to adsorb malachite green (MG) from aqueous solutions. The ZHL was treated with calcined BS to give the BS-ZHL, and its ability to adsorb MG was compared with untreated ZHL, calcined BS and Ca(OH)2-treated ZHL under several different conditions: pH (2-8), adsorbent dosage (0.25-2.5gL-1), contact time (10-30min), initial MG concentration (10-200mgL-1) and temperature (303-323K). The equilibrium studies indicated that the experimental data were in agreement with the Langmuir isotherm model. The use of 2.5gL-1 BS-ZHL resulted in the nearly complete removal of 200mgL-1 of MG with a maximum adsorption capacity of 81.5mgg-1 after 30min of contact time at pH 6 and 323K. The results indicated that the BS-ZHL can be used to effectively remove MG from aqueous media