Adsorptive removal of methylene blue as case study of adsorption phenomenon by ceramic filters: experimental study and kinetic modeling

Ceramic filters are widely recognized for their effectiveness in removing microorganisms and pathogens from drinking water. However, their ability to eliminate chemical pollutants through adsorption remains underexplored. This study investigates the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) onto ceramic filters made from sintered clay materials. It is a new and detailed experimental investigation of adsorption phenomena in ceramic pot filtration, focusing on the removal of methylene blue as a model pollutant. Adsorption kinetics were examined under varying conditions, including contact time, pH, adsorbent dosage, and agitation speed. The adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating a strong interaction between the adsorbents and the adsorbate. Isothermal adsorption experiments revealed that the Langmuir model best described the adsorption behavior, with maximum adsorption capacities of 267.5 mg/g, 258.5 mg/g, and 252.5 mg/g for the three clay-based materials studied. This suggests that the adsorption of methylene blue occurs as a monolayer on a homogeneous surface with finite and energetically equivalent sites, highlighting the potential for optimizing surface properties to maximize adsorption efficiency. These findings confirm the significant role of adsorption on ceramic pot filter in pollutant removal by clay based ceramic filters and highlight the potential of optimizing material properties to enhance water treatment efficiency.