Preparation, Characterisation and Exploration of Adsorption Potential of Cocopeat Powder – A Novel Agricultural Biomass for Dye Removal

IJEP 46(2): 99-111 : Vol. 46 Issue. 2 (February 2026)

Full Text

M. Jothimani, S. Chandra*, J. Manikandan, J. Raffiea Baseri and S. Arthi

PSG College of Arts and Science, Department of Chemistry, Coimbatore – 641 014, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

This work focuses on the utilization of cocopeat powder (CPP) as a novel agro-based precursor for the biosorption of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye from an aqueous medium. Prepared CPP was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) particle size analysis. Key parameters influencing dye removal, such as dye concentration, contact time, temperature, cocopeat dosage and solution pH, were analyzed. Maximum dye removal (92%) was observed at pH 6. Various kinetic and isotherm models were tested with the experimental data. Results suggest that the data follow pseudo-second-order kinetics and fit the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Thermodynamic and isotherm parameters indicate that the adsorption is favourable, endothermic, spontaneous and of the physisorption type.

Keywords

Adsorption, Cocopeat powder, Isotherms, Kinetics, Thermodynamics

References

  1. Crini, G. 2006. Non-conventional low-cost adsorbents for dye removal: A review. Bioresour. Tech., 97(9): 1061-1085. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2005. 05.001.
  2. Denisova, V., Tihomirova, K. and Mezule, L. 2018. Extended use of sphagnum peat as a biosorbent for Zn(II): repetitious sorption-desorption process. Agron. Res., 16(4): 1622-1629. DOI: 10.15159/AR.18.163.
  3. Eltaweil, A.S., El-Monaem, E.M.A., Omer, A. and Khalifa, R.E. 2020. Efficient removal of toxic Methylene Blue (MB) dye from aqueous solution using a metal organic framework (MOF) MIL-101 (Fe): Isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamic studies. Desalin. Water Treat., 189: 395-407. DOI: 10.50 04/dwt.2020.25599.
  4. Kadirvelu, K., Kavipriya, M., Karthika, C., Radhika, M., Vennilamani, N. and Pattabhi, S. 2003. Utilization of various agricultural wastes for activated carbon preparation and application for the removal of dyes and metal ions from aqueous solution. Bioresour. Tech., 87(1): 129-132. DOI: 10.1016/S0960-8524(02)00201-8.
  5. Mashkoor, F., Nasar, A., Inamuddin and Asiri, A.M. 2018. Exploring the reusability of synthetically contaminated wastewater containing Crystal Violet dye using Tectona grandis sawdust as a very low–cost adsorbent. Sci. Reports. 8: 8314. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26655-3.
  6. Azanaw, A., Birlie, B., Teshome, B. and Jemberie, M. 2022. Textile effluent treatment methods and eco-friendly resolution of textile wastewater. Case Stud. Chem. Env. Eng., 6: 100230. DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2022.100230
  7. Wei, F., Chen, D., Liang, Z., Zhaoa, S. and Luoa, Y. 2017. Synthesis and characterization of metal–organic frameworks fabricated by microwave-assisted ball milling for adsorptive removal of Congo red from aqueous solutions. RSC Adv., 7(73): 46520-46528. DOI: 10.1039/C7RA09243A.
  8. Inthorn, D., Singhtho, S., Thiravetyan, P. and Khan, E. 2004. Decolourization of basic, direct and reactive dyes by pre-treated narrow-leaved cattail (Typha anaugustfolia Linn). Bioresour. Tech., 94(3): 299-306. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2004.01.002.
  9. Lozano-Reátegui, R.M., Asencios-Tarazona, V., Ruiz-Yance, I.O., Guerrero-Ochoa, M.R., Pinedo-Chambi, W. and Mendoza-Carlos, M.M. 2024. Adsorbent potential of cocoa pod husk activated charcoal to remove metals from the Ucayali river. Agron. Res., 22(S2): 659-671.
  10. Zhang, F., Ma, B., Jiang, X. and Ji, Y. 2016. Dual function magnetic hydroxyapatite nanopowder for removal of Malachite Green and congo red from aqueous solution. Powder Tech., 302(16): 207-214. DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2016.08.044.
  11. Neiberte, B., Verovkins, A., Brovkina, J., Shulga, G., Ozolinš, J. and Lakevics, V. 2020. The advanced application of the wood-originated wastewater sludge. Agron. Res., 18(S1): 729-741. DOI: 10.15 159/ar.20.022.
  12. Ge, Q., Wang, P., Wan, C.F. and Chung, T.S. 2012. Polyelectrolyte-promoted forward osmosis-membrane (FO-MD) hybrid process for dye wastewater treatment. Env. Sci. Tech., 46(11): 6236-6243. DOI: 10.1021/es300784h.
  13. Chopra, A. K. and Sharma, A.K. 2015. Effect of electrochemical treatment on the COD removal from biologically treated municipal wastewater. Desalin. Water Treat., 53(1): 41-47. DOI: 10.1080/194439 94.2013.836992.
  14. Chatterjee, S., Lee, D.S., Lee, M.W. and Woo, S.H. 2009. Enhanced adsorption of congo red from aqueous solution by chitosan hydrogel beads impregnated with cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide. Bioresour. Tech., 100(11): 2803-2809. DOI: 10.1 016/j.biortech.2008. 12.035.
  15. Zhou, L., Gao, C. and Xu, W. 2010. Magnetic dendritic materials for highly efficient adsorption of dyes and drugs. ACS Appl. Mater. Interf., 2(5): 1483-1491. DOI: 10.1021/am100114f.
  16. Narayanan, C.M. and Narayan, V. 2019. Biological wastewater treatment and bioreactor design: A review. Sustain. Env. Res., 29: 33. DOI: 10.1186/s4 2834-019-0036-1.
  17. Burakov, A.E., Galunin, E.V., Burakova, I.V., Kucherova, A.E., Agarwal, S., Tkachev, A.G. and Gupta, V.K. 2018. Adsorption of heavy metals on conventional and nanostructured materials for wastewater treatment purposes: A review. Eco-toxicol. Env. Saf., 148: 702-712. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.11.034.
  18. Wong, Y.C., Szeto, Y.S., Cheung, W.H., McKay, G. 2004. Adsorption of acid dyes on chitosan—equilibrium isotherm analyses. Process Biochem., 39(6): 695-704. DOI: 10.1016 /S0032-9592(03) 00152-3.
  19. Ahmad, R. and Kumar, R. 2010. Adsorptive removal of congo red dye from aqueous solution using bael shell carbon. Appl. Surf. Sci., 257(5): 1628-1633. DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2010. 08.111.
  20. Elbanna, E.S., Farghali, A.A., Khedr, M.H. and Taha, M. 2024. Nano clinoptilolite zeolite as a sustainable adsorbent for dyes removal: Adsorption and computational mechanistic studies. J. Mol. Liq., 409: 125538. DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2024.12553 8.
  21. Sud, D., Mahajan, G. and M.P. Kaur. 2008. Agricultural waste material as potential for sequestering heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions – A review. Bioresour. Tech., 99(14): 6017-6027. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2007.11.064.
  22. Liu, C., Omer, A.M. and Ouyang, X.K. 2018. Adsorptive removal of cationic methylene blue dye using carboxymethyl cellulose/k-carrageenan/activated montmorillonite composite beads: Isotherm and kinetic studies. Int. J. Biol. Macromol., 106: 823-833. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac. 2017.08.084.
  23. Stelte, W., Reddy, N., Barsberg, S. and Sanadi, A. R. 2023. Coir from coconut processing waste as a raw material for applications beyond traditional uses. BioResour.,18(1): 2187-2212. DOI: 10.1537 6/biores.18.1.Stelte.
  24. Da Silva, N.A., Cecchin, D., Rocha, C.A.A., Toledo Filho, R.D., Pessin, J., Rossi, G., Bambi, G., Conti, L. and Ferraz, P.F.P. 2024. Influence of coconut fiber incorporation on the mechanical behaviour of adobe blocks. Agron. Res., 22(S3): 1504-1516. DOI: 10.15159/ar.2 4.064.
  25. Irawan, D., Muslimah, N. and Arifin, Z. 2018. Lignin isolation from coconut coir with variation of time and concentration of NaOH in the process of alkaline delignification. Rasayan J. Chem., 11(4): 1458-1460. DOI: 10.31788/RJC.2018.1144039.
  26. Norhasnan, N.H.A., Hassan, M.Z., Nor, A.F.M., Zaki, S.A., Dolah, R., Jamaludin, K.R. and Aziz, S.A. 2021. Physico-mechanical properties of rice husk/cocopeat reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene blend composites. Polymers. 13(7): 1171-1184. DOI: 10.3390/polym1307 1171.
  27. Rezaei, H., Rostami, N.M. and Abyar, H. 2025. Magnetic nanocomposite synthesised from cocopeat for highly efficient mercury removal from aqueous solutions. Biomass Convers. Biorefinery. 15(4): 5873-5885. DOI: 10.1007/s13399-024-05425-4.
  28. Yang, L., Wang, Z., Yang, L., Li, X., Zhang, Y. and Lu, C. 2017. Cocopeat powder as a source of magnetic sorbent for selective oil–water separation. Ind. Crops Prod., 101: 1-10. DOI: 10.1016/j.ind crop.2017.02.040.
  29. Freitas, B.R., Braga, J.O., Orlandi, M.P., Da Silva, B.P., Aoki, I.V., Lins, V.F.C. and Cotting, F. 2022. Characterization of coir fiber powder (cocos nucifera L.) as an environmentally friendly inhibitor pigment for organic coatings. J. Mater. Res. Tech., 19: 1332-1342. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2022.05.098.
  30. Elakiya, N. and Arulmozhiselvan, K. 2021. Characterization of substrates of growing media by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for containerized crop production. J. Appl. Nat. Sci., 13(SI): 35-42. DOI: 10.31018/jans.v13iSI.2774.
  31. Namasivayam, C. and Kavitha, D. 2006. IR, XRD and SEM studies on the mechanism of adsorption of dyes and phenols by coir pith carbon from aqueous phase. Microchem. J., 82(1): 43-48. DOI: 10. 1016/j.microc.2005.07.002.
  32. Likon, M., Remškar, M., Ducman, V. and Švegl, F. 2013. Populus seed fibers as a natural source for production of oil super absorbents. J. Env. Manage., 114: 158-167. DOI: 10.101 6/j.jenvman.2012. 03.047.
  33. Sats, A., Mootse, H., Pajumägi, S., Pisponen, A., Tatar, V. and Poikalainen, V. 2014. Estimation of particle size distribution in bovine colostrum whey by dynamic light scattering (DLS) method. Agron. Res., 12(3): 801-806.
  34. Özacar, M. and Sengil, I.A. 2005. Adsorption of metal complex dyes from aqueous solutions by pine sawdust. Bioresour. Tech., 96(7): 791-795. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2004.07.011.
  35. Barka, N., Abdennouri, M., El-Makhfouk, M. and Qourzal, S. 2013. Biosorption characteristics of cadmium and lead onto eco-friendly dried cactus (Opuntia ficus indica) Cladodes. J. Env. Chem. Eng., 1(3): 144-149. DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2013.04.008.
  36. Gedam, V.V., Raut, P., Chahande, A. and Pathak, P. 2019. Kinetic, thermodynamics and equilibrium studies on the removal of congo red dye using activated teak leaf powder. Appl. Water Sci., 9: 55. DOI: 10.1007/s13201-019-0933-9.
  37. Theivarasu, C. and Chandra, S. 2013. Adsorption performance of activated carbon prepared from elephant (Elephas maximus) dung for the removal of Reactive Yellow 15 from aqueous solution. Desalin. Water Treat., 51(40-42): 7639- 7654. DOI: 10.108 0/19443994.2013.78 1966.
  38. Chiou, M.S. and Li., H.Y. 2003. Adsorption behaviour of reactive dye in aqueous solution on chemical-cross-linked chitosan beads. Chemosphere. 50(8):1095-1105. DOI: 10.1016/S004 5-6535(02)0 0636-7.
  39. Zare, M.R., Mengelizadeh, N., Aghdavodian, G., Zare, F., Ansari, Z., Hashemi, F. and Moradalizadeh, S. 2024. Adsorption of Acid red 18 from aqueous solutions by GO-COFe2O4: Adsorption kinetic and isotherm, adsorption mechanism and adsorbent regeneration. Desalin. Water Treat., 317: 100219. DOI: 10.1016/j.dwt.2024.100219.
  40. Pan, M., Lin, X., Xieb, J. and Huang, X. 2017. Kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies for phosphate adsorption on aluminum hydroxide modified palygorskite nano-composites. RSC Adv., 7(8): 4492-4500. DOI: 10.1039/C6RA26802A.
  41. Andelescu, A., Nistor, M.A., Muntean, S.G. and Radulescu-Grad, M.E. 2018. Adsorption studies on copper, cadmium and zinc ion removal from aqueous solution using magnetite/carbon nanocomposites. Seperation Sci. Tech., 53(15): 2352-2364. DOI: 10.1080/01496395.2018.1457696.
  42. Boparai, H.K., Joseph, M. and O’Carroll, D.M. 2011. Kinetics and thermodynamics of cadmium ion removal by adsorption onto nano zerovalent iron particles. J. Hazard. Mater., 186(1): 458-465. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.11.029.
  43. Majhi, D. and Patra, B.N. 2020. Polyaniline and sodium alginate nanocomposite: A pH responsive adsorbent for the removal of organic dyes from water. RSC Adv., 10(71): 43904. DOI: 10.1039/D0RA 08125F.
  44. Senthil Kumar, P., Ramalingam, S., Senthamarai, C., Niranjanaa, M., Vijayalakshmi, P. and Sivanesan, S. 2010. Adsorption of dye from aqueous solution by cashew nut shell: studies on equilibrium isotherm, kinetics and thermodynamics of interactions. Desalination. 261(1-2): 52-60. DOI: 10.1016/j.desal .2010.05.032.
  45. Lagergren, S. 1898. About the theory of so-called adsorption of soluble substances. Kungliga Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar. 24: 1.
  46. Edet, U.A. and Ifelebuegu, A.O. 2020. Kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamic modelling of the adsorption of phosphates from model wastewater using recycled brick waste. Processes. 8(6): 665-680. DOI: 10.3390/pr8060665.
  47. Bhatnagar, A., Kumar, E., Minocha, A.K., Jeon, B.H., Song, H. and Seo, Y.C. 2009. Removal of anionic dyes from water using Citrus limonum (lemon) peel: Equilibrium studies and kinetic modelling. Seperation Sci. Tech., 44(2): 316-334. DOI: 10.108 0/01496390802437461.
  48. Weber Jr., W.J. and Morris, J.C. 1963. Kinetics of adsorption on carbon from solution. J. Sanitary Eng. Division. 89(2): 31. DOI: 10.1061/JSEDAI.0000430
  49. Pholosi, A., Naidoo, E.B. and Ofomaja, A.E. 2020. Intraparticle diffusion of Cr(VI) through biomass and magnetite coated biomass: A comparative kinetic and diffusion study. South African J. Chem. Eng., 32: 39-55. DOI: 10.1016/j.sajce.2020.01.0 05.
  50. Yoro, K.O., Amosa, M.K., Sekoai, P.T., Mulopo, J. and Daramola, M.O. 2019. Diffusion mechanism and effect of mass transfer limitation during the adsorption of CO2by polyaspar-tamide in a packed-bed unit. Int J. Sustain. Eng., 13(1): 54-67. DOI: 10.1080/19397038.20 19.1592261.
  51. Benjelloun, M., Miyaha, Y., Evrendilekb, G.A., Zerrouqa, F. and Lairinia, S. 2021. Recent advances in adsorption kinetic models: Their application to dye types. Arabian J. Chem., 14(4): 103031. DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2021.103031.
  52. Hasani, N., Selimi, T., Mele, A., Thaçi, V., Halili, J., Berisha, A. and Sadiku, M. 2022. Theoretical, equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamic investigations of Methylene Blue adsorption onto lignite coal. Molecules. 27(6): 1856-1874. DOI: 10.3390/molecules270618 56.
  53. Dada, A.O, Olalekan, A.P., Olatunya, A.M. and Dada, O. 2012. Langmuir, freundlich, temkin and dubinin-radushkevich isotherms studies of equilibrium sorption of Zn2+onto phosphoric acid modified rice husk. IOSR J. Appl. Chem., 3(1): 38-45. DOI: 10.9790/5736-0313845.
  54. Özacar, M. and Sengil, I.A. 2003. Adsorption of reactive dyes on calcined alunite from aqueous solutions. J. Hazard. Mater. B. 98(1-3): 211-224. DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3894(02)0 0358-8.
  55. Namasivayam, C., Radhika, R. and Suba, S. 2001. Uptake of dyes by a promising locally available agricultural solid waste: Coir pith. Waste Manage., 21(4): 381-387. DOI: 10.1016/S0956-053X(00)00 081-7.
  56. Freundlich, H.M.F. 1906. Over the adsorption in solution. J. Physical Chem., 57: 385-471.
  57. Vijayaraghavan, K., Padmesh, T.V.N., Palanivelu, K. and Velan, M. 2006. Biosorption of nickel (II) ions onto Sargassum wightii: Application of two-parameter and three-parameter isotherm model. J. Hazard. Mater. B. 133(1-3): 304-308. DOI: 10.101 6/j.jhazmat.2005.10.016.
  58. Foo, K.Y. and Hameed, B.H. 2010. Insights into the modelling of adsorption isotherm systems. Chem. Eng. J., 156(1): 2-10. DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2009.09. 013.
  59. Mariyama, A., Mittala, J., Sakinab, F., Baker, R.T., Sharmac, A.K. and Mittal, A. 2021. Efficient batch and fixed-bed sequestration of a basic dye using a novel variant of ordered mesoporous carbonas adsorbent. Arabian J. Chem., 14(6): 103186-103200. DOI: 10.1016/j .arabjc.2021.103186.