Removal of methylene blue from water environment in an environmentally responsible manner: green remediation potential of alcali-treated biomass of Prunus laurocerasus L

Abstract Methylene blue (Mb) is a synthetic dye that is broadly used in many practical applications but also poses many risks to the health of living beings. In this study, for the first time in the literature, the green remediation potential of alcali-treated waste leaf biomass of Prunus laurocerasus L. for Mb biosorption from aqueous medium was investigated. The biosorption process was characterized through the techniques of SEM and FTIR. The biosorbent exhibited a favorable surface structure for Mb biosorption. The biosorbent reached peak efficiency at pH of 8, biosorbent dose of 10 mg, biosorption time of 120 min and initial Mb concentration of 15 mg L − 1 . For Mb biosorption, the isotherm data agreed well with Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm model, while the kinetic data provided a good fit to the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model. The biosorption was thermodynamically physical, spontaneous and favorable process. Mb biosorption capacity of the biosorbent was calculated to be 141.098 mg g − 1 . High success of the biosorbent in Mb biosorption indicated its superior environmental remediation potential for large-scale wastewater treatment in an environmentally responsible way.