Application of Methylene Blue Adsorption Technique in the Determination of Specific Surface Area of Termite Feathers

Abstract

Methylene Blue (MB) adsorption technique was employed in the measurement of the Specific Surface Area (SSA) of Termite Feathers (TF). The adsorption study was carried out at 25°C and 270 rpm after which the residual concentration of MB was determined spectrophotometrically at a wavelength of 660 nm. The adsorption data was found to conform to the Langmuir model within the concentration range studied and Langmuir constants were determined for TF. The specific surface area was then calculated from the Langmuir isotherm constant ‘b’. Effect of pre-treatment temperature on SSA was also considered at 30, 40, 50 and 60OC. The specific surface area was found to be 58.85 m2/g for the raw TF with values of 60.34, 78.52, 99.64 and 118.26 m2/g for the samples pre-treated at 30, 40, 50 and 60OC respectively. Finally, the specific surface area value obtained by MB adsorption technique was then compared with those obtained by Orth phenanthroline (OP) and p-nitrophenol (PNP) adsorption