Dye adsorption studies using a novel bio-derived calcite material

As the global population increases, food production including aquaculture is increasing to provide for this. At the same time, this means more waste is produced. Waste from farming blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) is dominated by shells rich in calcite. A ‘soft’ calcite material prepared from waste mussels was investigated for its adsorptive properties and its possible use in wastewater remediation. The adsorption of two cationic dyes, methylene blue and safranin-O, on this material were evaluated through isothermal and kinetic modelling. The adsorption systems for both methylene blue and safranin-O can be described using Langmuir isotherms and the respective adsorption capacities were 1.81 mg/g and 1.51 mg/g. The adsorption process was dominated by pseudo-second order rate kinetics.