ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Utilization of argan nut shells as a bioresource for efficient malachite green oxalate adsorption

Mohamed Sadoq, Smail Imame, Hafssa Atlas, Mbarka Ouchabi, Abderahim Kali, Badr-Edine Sadoq, Abdelouahed Amar, Ilyasse Loulidi, Maria Jabri, Awad A. Alrashdi, Hassane Lgaz, Mohammed Naciri Bennani, and Fatima Boukhlifi

Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology Applied to the Environment, URL-CNRST-N◦13, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco

E-mail: hlgaz@hanyang.ac.kr

Received: 6 March 2024  Accepted: 13 July 2024

Abstract:

Recent concerns about environmental pollution have highlighted the need for effective treatment of tannery effluents, which often carry high loads of malachite green oxalate (MGO), a harmful micro-pollutant in aquatic ecosystems. This study explores the use of argan nut shells (ANSs) as an adsorbent for MGO, aiming to develop an efficient method for mitigate its spread in water bodies. The adsorption process parameters were thoroughly examined to optimize ANS usage for maximum efficiency. Results showed that 0.08 g of ANS could effectively adsorb MGO and demonstrate that a small quantity of ANS, just 0.08 g, is capable of effectively adsorbing MGO, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 7.22 mg/g and the equilibrium time for the adsorption of MGO onto ANS was 40 min at both 35 °C and 45 °C and 50 min at 25 °C, indicating slight temperature dependence. The increase in temperature positively affected adsorption, confirming the endothermic nature of the process. Kinetic analysis revealed that the adsorption follows pseudo-second-order kinetics, with intraparticle diffusion not being the sole rate-controlling step. The adsorption behavior aligned with the Freundlich isotherm model, with significant adsorption occurring at pH 4–8. Thermodynamic parameters indicated a spontaneous (ΔG° < 0) and endothermic (ΔH° > 0) process, with a pH_pzc value of 3.6. surface characterization using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDS confirmed the interactions between MGO and ANS, establishing confirming the efficacy of argan nut shells as a promising material for removing malachite green oxalate from aqueous solutions.

Keywords: Environmental Chemistry; Adsorption; Argan nut shells; Malachite green oxalate; Wastewater

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-024-03611-2

Chemical Papers 78 (13) 7525–7540 (2024)