Biosorption study of basic dye using aerial part of widely growing weed Chenopodium album

In the present study, the fine powder of the aerial part of the invasive weed Chenopodium album has been explored to effectively eliminate the organic dye Crystal violet from its water solution. The fine powder of the aerial part of the weed has been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. Its impact on various parameters of dye elimination has been investigated. It is found that the magnitude of adsorption is greater at pH 8 and increases with temperature. Different adsorption isotherms and kinetic models were employed to match the adsorption methods data. The data successfully fit the Freundlich, Hill adsorption model and interparticle models with R-2 values of 0.99, 0.99 and 0.97, respectively. The adsorption capacity of C. album based biosorbent was greater in batch experiments in comparison to bulk-using column operations. The biosorbent made of C. album can be used as a robust material for removing the dye Crystal violet. The bio-adsorbent used in the present study has exhibited much better efficiency (Q(e) = 219.4 mg/g) in comparison to the ash of the C. album employed for the adsorption of Crystal violet dye.