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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/NMsB/29
Efficient removal of acid blue dye from contaminated water by copper nanocomposite
with Ricinus communis biochar

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Haleema Sadia , Muhammad Imran , Noor Samad Shah , Nimra Farooq , Jibran Iqbal
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari- Campus,
61100 Pakistan
2 College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, P.O. Box 144534, Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates
Correspondence: imranrb@cuivehari.edu.pk
Abstract

Water contamination by pollutants is a great concern for the environment across the globe.
Dyes are one of the main pollutants contributing to water pollution, which are coloring
substances used to color industrial products, e.g., textile, rubber, cosmetics, and plastic. Dyes
exhibit toxicity to humans, aquatic organisms, and the environment. In this study, Ricinous
communis biochar (RCB) modified with copper oxide nanocomposite (RCB/CuONPs) was
used to remove the Acid blue dye (AB) from contaminated water. Batch scale adsorption
experiment with RCB, RCB/CuONPs were carried out for the removal of AB dye. The impact
of dye concentration, dose of the adsorbent, solution pH, time, ionic strength, and temperature
were determined to remove dyes from water. The experimental data were simulated with
kinetic (Pseudo first order and Pseudo second order) and equilibrium (Langmuir and
Freundlich) adsorption models. Results revealed that the nanocomposite (RCB/CuONPs)
showed higher AB adsorption (192.5 mg/g) than RCB (94 mg/g) from contaminated water.
Maximum adsorption of AB onto RCB and RCB/CuONPs during first 60 min followed by
slight increase in AB removal after this time till 180 min. The presence of salt (auxiliary)
showed 9.2% and 12.9% higher removal of AB as compared with no salt by RCB/CuONPs and
RCB, respectively at 100 mg/L AB concentration. Based on these results, it is recommended
to use nanocomposites of biochar for the removal of dyes from contaminated water.

Keywords: acid blue dye, Ricinus communis, pollutant

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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