Carbon composite lignin-based adsorbents for the adsorption of dyes

Carbon composite lignin-based adsorbent were prepared through hydrothermal method with glucose as carbon source, calcium lignosulfonate and triethylene tetramine as raw materials, respectively. The optimum synthesis conditions were determined by investigating the addition of carbon and triethylene tetramine. The adsorbent was used for the adsorption of azo dyes Congo red and Eriochrome blue black R, and the five factors affecting the adsorption were discussed, including pH of dyes, initial concentration, adsorption time, adsorption temperature and adsorbent dosage. The corresponding adsorption mechanism such as pseudo first order kinetics, pseudo second order kinetics, intraparticle diffusion, Langmuir adsorption isotherm, Freundlich isotherm, Temkin isotherm, Dubinin-Radushkevich adsorption isotherm, thermodynamics were also studied. When the dye concentration is 40 mg L−1, Congo red and Eriochrome blue black R dye removal rates reach 99%. Moreover, the adsorption process of two kinds of dyes follow the pseudo second order kinetics and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm.