Abstract

IJLTEMAS

International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science (IJLTEMAS)

IJLTEMAS

2278-2540

IJLTEMAS

362

10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2026.150900011

Engineering Education

Adsorption Kinetics and Performance of Methylene Blue onto Alkali-Treated Sugarcane Bagasse Biochar

Hidayu Abdul Rani

Noor

Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Cawangan Johor, Kampus Pasir Gudang, Malaysia. Malaysia Adam Jefni

Muhammad

Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Cawangan Johor, Kampus Pasir Gudang, Malaysia. Malaysia Wirizil Karai

Nadhirah

Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Cawangan Johor, Kampus Pasir Gudang, Malaysia. Malaysia Mohd Shafiee

Khairunnajma

Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Cawangan Johor, Kampus Pasir Gudang, Malaysia. Malaysia Fadilah Mohamad

Nor

Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Cawangan Johor, Kampus Pasir Gudang, Malaysia. Malaysia Nur Fazlina Abdol Jani

Wan

Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Cawangan Johor, Kampus Pasir Gudang, Malaysia. Malaysia

15 9 122 130 12 09 2026 17 09 2026

30 09 2026

Biochar methylene blue sugarcane bagasse kinetics adsorption wastewater.

Abstract

Sugarcane bagasse (SCB), an abundant agricultural byproduct, was utilized to synthesize an effective biochar adsorbent via NaOH pretreatment and muffle furnace pyrolysis at 500 °C for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solutions. Surface characterization using Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Elemental Analysis (EA) confirmed significant structural transformations, including increased carbonization and the development of a well-defined porous network. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated rapid adsorption kinetics, achieving an equilibrium dye removal efficiency of approximately 95% within 30 min with an equilibrium capacity (qe) of 14.5584 mg/g. Kinetic modelling revealed that the adsorption process strongly followed the pseudo-second-order model (R2=0.9997, k2=0.0676 g/mg.min) significantly outperforming the Langmuir (R2=0.1806) and Lagergren pseudo-first order (R2= 0.3713). These results confirm that chemisorption involving electron sharing or exchange between MB molecules and biochar surface active sites is the dominant rate-controlling mechanism10. This study demonstrates the potential of value-added sugarcane bagasse biochar as a sustainable and cost-effective material for industrial dye wastewater remediation.

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