The Use of Exoskeletons and Molts of Farmed Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) for the Removal of Reactive Dyes from Aqueous Solutions

The study aim was to test the applicability of exoskeletons and molts from mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) cultures as sorbents for anionic dyes: Reactive Black 5 (RB5) Yellow (RY84). Factors investigated included: characteristics (FTIR, pHPZC), influence pH on sorption efficiency, kinetics (pseudo-first, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion models), determination maximum capacity (Langmuir 1, Langmuir 2, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich models). efficiency dyes tested highest at 2. time needed reach equilibrium both 120–150 min. were best described by pseudo-second-order model. Maximum data showed fit 2 isotherm, suggesting that least two types centers played an important role in dye sorption. Presumably, sorbents, active sites question protonated amine (-NH3+), acetamide (NH2COCH3+), hydroxyl groups (-OH2+) chitin protein. RB5 RY84 78.70 mg/g 60.49 mg/g, respectively, exoskeletons, well 55.72 44.25 molts.