A promising evaluation method for dead leaves of Posidonia oceanica (L.) in the adsorption of methyl violet.

Posidonia oceanica (Linnaeus) Delile is an endemic species in the Mediterranean Sea. In the present study, dead leaves of P. oceanica (L.) which are accumulated on the beach seasonally were used as an alternative low cost biosorbent to remove methyl violet (MV) from aqueous solution. In order to explain the adsorption kinetics, pseudo first-order and pseudo second-order kinetic models were investigated. It was obtained that the pseudo second-order model was well in line with our experimental results. Equilibrium data were analyzed according to Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich equations. Langmuir isotherm model corresponded well with equilibrium data than the others, and the maximum adsorption capacity of the biomass was found to be 119.05 mg g⁻¹ at 45°C. Thermodynamic parameters, ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°, were calculated according to van't Hoff equation. Negative values of Gibbs free energy imply that the process is spontaneous. Consequently, dried biomass of this species can be an alternative and low cost material for the removal of MV from wastewaters. Moreover, since the remarkable adsorption capacity of these dead leaves compared to other low cost adsorbents has been observed, this beach waste could provide an economic contribution to the countries in the Mediterranean region.