Sustainable Adsorption of Methyl Violet 2B from Wastewater Using Treated Algerian Clay: Isotherm and Kinetic Studies

Abstract Organic dyes pose serious threats to both aquatic ecosystems and human health when discharged into water bodies. Conventional wastewater treatment methods often fail to remove these pollutants effectively. In this study, the impact of integrating ball milling and calcination processes of Algerian clay, a readily available and cost‐effective material, was evaluated to enhance its adsorption efficiency for methyl violet 2B (MV 2B) dye. The modified clay was characterized using various analytical techniques, including BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) surface area analysis, X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Additionally, the effects of operational parameters, including pH dye solution, adsorbent mass, and contact time, were investigated. Characterization results indicated a mesoporous structure in the clay, with an H4 hysteresis loop and a pore diameter of 3.8 nm. Adsorption experiments identified that the optimal conditions were a contact time of 1 h and an adsorbent mass of 50 mg. Adsorption modeling revealed that the data fit with the Freundlich model, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 532.43 mg/g. The combination of ball milling and calcination processes significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of MV 2B dye, demonstrating its promise for sustainable wastewater treatment.