Modified Nigella Sativa Seeds as a Novel Efficient Natural Adsorbent for Removal of Methylene Blue Dye

The aim of this work was to investigate the use of modified nigella sativa seeds (MNS) for removing of methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solution. The nigella sativa (NS) seeds have been pre-treated at different temperatures and periods of time. The maximum adsorption of MB was achieved using NS sample washed with distilled water pre-heated at 65 °C for one hour, then ground to 250 µm particle size (MNS-4). Different parameters were modified to optimize the removal process of MB using MNS-4, such as contact times, temperatures, initial dye concentrations, adsorbent doses, and pH of the solution. MNS-4 exhibited a removal efficiency of 99% for initial dye concentrations greater than 800 ppm at pH value of 11. The kinetic study indicated that the removal process follows the pseudo second order model. The removal was spontaneous, endothermic and favorable, and this was indicated by the thermodynamic study. Maximum removal capacity was 194 mg/g as deduced from Langmuir model. The removal efficiency was maintained after four recycle uses. The modified nigella sativa seeds were characterized before, and after adsorption and regeneration by Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The data suggested that nigella sativa seeds could be a prospective agent for removing MB from wastewater.