Utilization of the Agricultural Wastes for Decolourisation of Congo Red

Activated carbons were prepared from agricultural wastes coir pith, rice husk and bagasse. They were characterized and utilized forthe removal of Congo red dye. The complete decolourization of Congo red for 5 ppm aqueous solution was observed with 25 to 400mg of the activated carbons. The effect of pH, contact time and adsorbent dosage was studied for the activated carbons obtained fromthe three agricultural wastes. The order of decolourizing ability of them is as follows: Coir pith > rice husk > bagasse. The adsorptionequilibrium studies of Congo red onto carbon obtained from the agricultural wastes were also carried out and the adsorption data were modeled using Freundlich adsorption isotherm.