Investigation of sorption isotherm models on remove ability sugar beet dilute molasses impurities using powdered activated carbon

Powdered activated carbon has high adsorption capacity with the remarkable nonpolar surface. The surface forces (van der Waal’s and London) create a stronger attraction between the carbon surface and impurities in comparison to present molecules in dilute molasses. The aim of the study was to adsorb types of impurities such as colorants, turbidity agents, phenolic compounds, anthocyanin and protein of dilute molasses (35% sugar beet dilute molasses) using powdered activated carbon at 4 levels (0.61, 0.78, 1.13, and 1.83 g 100g-1 dilute molasses) at pH 4.5. Further, Freundlich and Longmuir sorption isotherm models were evaluated to predict reduction of impurities. The results of equilibrium isotherms based on the coefficient of determination and adsorption capacity exhibited that the adsorption of impurities such as colorants (R2 = 0.9605 and Kf = 5.0794), phenolic compounds (R2 = 0.7605 and Kf = 0.9755) and protein (R2 = 0.9679 and Kf = 1.9314) didn’t follow from Freundlich model. Turbidity agents and anthocyanin didn’t follow any of the studied models.