Insights into kinetics and equilibrium of methylene blue adsorption onto β-cyclodextrin polymers

Abstract The exclusive properties of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) combined with its harmless characters making it as an interesting and potential carbon adsorbent for water pollutants removal via adsorption. This work was aimed at evaluating the kinetics and isotherm parameters of methylene blue dye adsorption onto β-CD polymers. The carbon polymers were prepared by citric acid cross-linking, followed by post-treatment with sodium p-toluenesulfinate. The adsorbents were characterized using TGA, BET and FTIR. The adsorption of methylene blue was studied at varying concentrations (5–300 mg/L) and contact times (10–2880 min), and the kinetics and isotherm models were employed to describe the adsorption data. The post-treated carbon polymer exhibits a greater specific surface of 16.6 m2/g. The maximum adsorption of methylene blue by cross-linked and post-treated β-CD adsorbents are 263 and 227 mg/g, respectively. The kinetics data fitted well into pseudo-first order model, indicating physical adsorption. The Boyd’s model showed that film diffusion may be the controlling mechanism. The equilibrium data of methylene blue adsorption for the two β-CD polymers obeyed Langmuir model. To conclude, β-CD is a promising adsorbent candidate for the treatment of dye wastewater.