REMOVAL OF S-MATRIX 150 BLUE AND RED DYES USING *PROSOPIS JULIFLORA* CHARCOAL: AN INVESTIGATION OF ADSORPTION KINETICS

Abstract

This study evaluates the efficiency of charcoal produced from *Prosopis juliflora* (algaroba) biomass in removing the textile dyes "Blue" and "Red" (S-Matrix) from an aqueous medium. Batch adsorption tests were conducted using charcoal prepared in a muffle furnace at 773.14 K for three hours. The experiments were carried out with dye solutions at a concentration of 40 ppm under constant agitation. The experimental data were analyzed using the Pseudo-First-Order, Pseudo-Second-Order, Elovich, Weber-Morris, and Boyd kinetic models to understand the behavior of the adsorption process and the mechanisms involved. The results showed that the "Blue" dye exhibited a higher affinity for the adsorbent and better removal performance compared to the "Red" dye. Among the models evaluated, the Pseudo-Second-Order model provided the best fit to the experimental data for both dyes, suggesting a potential contribution of chemical interactions to the adsorption process. Complementary analyses using the Weber-Morris and Boyd models indicated that mass transfer occurs through combined mechanisms, involving both resistance to diffusion within the boundary layer and the transport of the adsorbate into the material's pores. Thus, the findings demonstrate the potential of charcoal derived from *Prosopis juliflora* as a low-cost adsorbent material, representing a promising and environmentally sustainable alternative for the removal of dyes present in aqueous effluents.