Abstract

• This research work deals with the prepared magnetic peanut hulls used for investigation of colour removal efficiency. Peanut hulls (red and white) and prepared magnetic peanut hulls (red and white) were characterized by using EDXRF, FT IR and SEM techniques. The composition of the magnetic peanut hulls which was determined by EDXRF, showed that calcium and iron were the main component in the peanut hulls. FT IR spectra showed the presence of ionizable groups such as carboxyl, carbonyl and hydroxyl in both magnetic peanut hull (red and white) samples. SEM micrographs indicated the porous nature of the surface. Therefore dyes can enter the pores of the samples. In this research removal percent of methylene blue(MB, a cationic dye) by prepared magnetic peanut hulls (red and white) were studied in terms of contact times, concentrations, dosages, pH, stirring speeds and temperatures. The highest removal efficiency of MB by magnetic peanut hulls red (97.55 %) and white (96.86 %) were found at 120 min of contact times. The optimum concentration of MB was 20 ppm for the colour removal by both sample red (97.55 %) and white (96.86 %). The optimum dosages of both samples were observed to be 0.2 g. The optimum pH value for removal efficiencies of both samples were observed as pH 7. The optimum stirring speed and temperature were observed to be 200 rpm and 30 for both red and white magnetic peanut hulls samples. Magnetic peanut hulls (red) showed higher colour removal efficiencies than white sample.