Adsorption of methylene blue on cellulose from its own solution and its mixture with methyl orange

611-617The adsorption behaviour of the cationic dye, methylene blue (MB) from its own solution and from its mixture with an anionic dye, methyl orange (MO) on cellulose has been investigated. The effects of temperature and KCl on the adsorption process have been examined. The anionic dye, MO neither individually nor in mixed condition adsorbs on the negatively charged cellulose surface under the studied conditions of temperature and ionic strength. The dye MB alone and from its mixture with MO adsorbs on the cellulose surface, the former shows lower extent of adsorption than the latter. At a temperature >303 K, the mixed dyes MB and MO undergo complexation. The results have been analysed in the light of the adsorption isotherms of Freundlich, Frumkin and Langmuir and related adsorption thermodynamics