Enhanced Adsorption of Methylene Blue dye using Groundnut Shell Activated Nanocarbon: A Sustainable Approach

In this work, activated nanocarbon derived from lignocellulose-rich groundnut shells was synthesized by KOH impregnation to enhance surface area and porosity, resulting in Groundnut Shell Activated Nanocarbon (GSANC) and thoroughly characterized for its porosity, particle size, crystallinity, combustion profile, functional groups, and surface morphology. It exhibited a type I N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm with an H4 hysteresis loop, indicative of a mix of micro and mesopores, with a high specific surface area of 665.80 m² g-1 and an average pore diameter of 2.97 nm. This nanoparticulate activated carbon exhibited exceptional performance in methylene blue (MB) dye adsorption, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of 212.76 mg g-1. The adsorption mechanisms included electrostatic interactions, π-π stacking, and hydrogen bonding, contributing significantly to its efficacy as an adsorbent highlighting its potential for applications in wastewater treatment.