Fast removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution using coal-based activated carbon

Coal-based activated carbons (CACs) were prepared from three long flame coals with different ash and volatile matter content. CACs prepared by coal with high ash (6.74%) and volatile matter content (34.31%) showed better adsorption efficiency towards MB (547.35 mg g(−1)) due to higher surface area and pore volume. The effect of coal to activating agent ratio (CAR) was also investigated in a batch reactor. The porosity development is closely related to the CAR. The calculated monolayer adsorption amount (714.29 mg g(−1)) was found on YLC-AC-3 with a surface area of 1212.50 m(2) g(−1). The equilibrium data were favorably described by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, and adsorption kinetics fitted well to the pseudo-second order model. The removal efficiency remains at 98.21% after five runs. The results of the present study suggest that CACs are potential and effective adsorbents in fast removal of dyes from aqueous solution.