Waste newspaper activation by sodium phosphate for adsorption dynamics of methylene blue

Abstract This study investigates the potential of using waste newspaper (WN) as an adsorbent for removing methylene blue (MB) dye from water, emphasizing the environmental benefits of repurposing waste materials. Activated carbon (AC) was synthesized from WN using sodium phosphate (NaH 2 PO 4 ) as the activating agent, which is known for producing high mesopore content and requiring relatively low activation temperatures. The activated carbon’s physicochemical properties were thoroughly characterized using techniques such as FTIR, SEM, and surface area analysis based on the Brunner-Emmett-Teller (BET) theory. The specific surface area of AC was 917 m 2 /g. Continuous adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of the synthesized activated carbon in a dynamic flow system. Various operating conditions, including initial dye concentration, influent flow rate, and bed height, were explored to optimize the adsorption process. This study applied the Yoon-Nelson, Thomas, Adams-Bohart and modified Logistic models to analyze the breakthrough curves and predict adsorption capacities. Results demonstrated that the AC exhibited high adsorption capacity (14.7 mg/g), particularly at lower flow rates and higher bed heights. This work offers valuable insights into sustainable wastewater treatment methods, showcasing the effectiveness of using low-cost, waste-derived activated carbon for dye removal in industrial applications.