Theses and Dissertations

Advisor

Jessop, Julie

Committee Member

Mlsna, Todd

Committee Member

Hill, Priscilla

Date of Degree

5-15-2026

Original embargo terms

Visible MSU Only 1 year

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Campus Access Only

Major

Chemical Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Department

Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering

Abstract

An unlabeled Moroccan blue dye (MBD) purchased from a local, Moroccan market was chemically identified and remediated using Douglas-fir biochar (DFBC). Multi-technique analysis, including UV–Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analyzers (TGA), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS), was performed to identify the dye. Spectroscopic features and an HR-MS molecular ion at m/z 284 indicate that methylene blue is a component of MBD, with inorganic additives detected by TGA and trace zinc identified by ICP-MS. Adsorption studies showed rapid dye uptake within 30 minutes and equilibrium within 120 minutes. The pseudo-second order (PSO) kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm provided the best fits, with maximum adsorption capacities approaching 856 mg g⁻¹. These results support DFBC as an effective, sustainable adsorbent for methylene blue containing wastewater.

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