Synthesis of Hybrid Cassava Starch Composite and its Application for
Methylene Blue Adsorption

DOI: 10.22607/IJACS.2023.1103004

Research Article

ABSTRACT

One of the major problems of sub-Saharan Africa is the non-treatment of industrial effluents which are directly discharged
into the environment. It is therefore crucial to develop inexpensive adsorbents to overcome these problems by treating water
by adsorption. This study focuses on the development of low-cost hybrid composite based on cassava starch for the removal
of methylene blue from aqueous medium. Thus, carbon particles from popcorn were deposited on the surface of cassava
starch which had previously undergone destructuring by acid hydrolysis. The prepared adsorbent was characterized by X-ray
diffraction and scanning electron spectroscopy. The effectiveness of the hybrid composite was verified by varying parameters
such as contact time, adsorbent dose, pH, temperature, and initial pollutant concentration. Analysis of isotherm model that can
describe the adsorption phenomenon indicated that the experimental data fit Langmuir model better with correlation coefficients
approaching unity and separation factor values (RL) indicating a favorable process. The maximum monolayer adsorption
capacity was 6.44 mg/g. Adsorption kinetic results were better explained by pseudo–second-order model. The spontaneous and
exothermic character of the adsorption process was revealed by thermodynamic study. Hybrid composite reuse was evaluated
and excellent results were obtained. Therefore, hybrid composite based on cassava starch and carbons derived from popcorn is
a cheap adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue from aqueous solutions

Key words: Cassava starch, Popcorn, Activated carbon, Composite, Methylene blue, Adsorption

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Indian Journal of Advances in Chemical Science,

Volume: 11, Issue : 3, August 2023

ISSN No.: 2320-0898 (Print); 2320-0928 (Electronic)