Ipoma batatas (sweet potato) leaf and leaf-based biochar as potential adsorbents for procion orange MX-2R removal from aqueous solution

Abstract

The industrial sector of textile effluent discharge comprised majorly of toxic pollutants of synthetic dyes. Lignocellulosic based biomass is a potential precursor for the preparation of biochar type adsorbent for treating wastewater. The present research examined the leaf of Ipoma batatas in the synthesis and application of biochar in the adsorptive removal of procion orange MX-2R (PO) from aqueous solution. The Ipoma batatas biochar (IBB) was prepared from the treatment of Ipoma batatas leaf (IBL) biomass with CaCl₂, further activation using microwave-assisted electromagnetic radiation and pyrolysis approach. The batch adsorption assessments of the process parameters were performed with the range of experimental conditions such as initial PO concentration of 1.0–70.0 mg/L, adsorption contact time up to 240 min, solution pH 1.0–11.0, IBL/IBB dosage 0.05–0.30 g/L and adsorption temperature of 303–333 K. The total surface area of IBB exhibited high value of 1175.47 m²/g compared to that of IBL surface area 439.25 m²/g. The equilibrium model analysis showed the adsorption capacity according to Liu model presents 221.20 mg/g (IBL) and 750.80 mg/g (IBB). This study showed the potential of IBB over IBL towards the adsorptive removal of PO from simulated solution.