Review on decolorisation of aqueous dye solutions by low cost adsorbents

Textile wastewater presents a challenge to conventional physico-chemical and biological treatment methods. Liquid-phase adsorption has been shown to be highly efficient for the removal of dyes and other organic matters from process or waste effluent. Many different types of adsorbent are used to remove colour from wastewater among which the most widely used material is activated carbon. Since activated carbon is expensive and necessitates regeneration, attempts have been made to substitute alternatives that are biodegradable, low cost and/or waste materials. This article presents the investigations carried out by numerous researchers on the use of different kinds of adsorbents and their adsorption capacities for the removal of specific dyes from textile wastewater.     

Decolorisation of aqueous dye solutions by low‐cost adsorbents: a review

Effluent generated by the textile industry can be highly coloured. Before the waste is disposed into receiving waters, colour removal is an important consideration. Because of their complex molecular structures, dyes present in the textile wastewater are not removed easily by conventional wastewater treatment processes. They are fairly stable to light, as well as heat, and resist biodegradation, thus posing a challenge to conventional physico‐chemical and biological treatment methods. Although adsorption technology using activated carbon has been considered to be an effective and proven technology, it has its limitations as it is expensive and necessitates regeneration. As cost is an important consideration in most developing countries, efforts have been made to explore the possibility of using various low‐cost alternatives that are biodegradable, abundant, readily available, and are derived from waste materials. This article is a compilation of the investigations carried out by numerous researchers (from 2002 onwards) on the effective use of different kinds of low‐cost adsorbents for the removal of specific dyes from textile wastewater.     

Synthesis and adsorption performance of fly ash/steel slag-based geopolymer for removal of Cu (II) and methylene blue

In order to realize the value-added resource utilization of solid waste, geopolymer particle adsorbents were prepared at low temperatures using silica-aluminum-rich fly ash and steel slag powders as raw materials. In order to investigate the mechanism of their adsorption of dyes and heavy metal ions from wastewater, the effects of steel slag/fly ash ratio, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration of methylene blue (MB) and Cu²⁺ solution, adsorption time and temperature on the adsorption performance of the fly ash/steel slag-based geopolymer adsorbents were investigated, systematically. Results presented that the adsorption capacities of MB and Cu²⁺ were 33.30 and 24.15 mg/g, and the removal efficiencies were 99.90% and 96.59% with the dosages of 3 and 4 g/L geopolymer adsorbents (steel slag/fly ash ratio of 20 wt.%), respectively. The adsorption processes of MB and Cu²⁺ on the adsorbents were in accordance with the proposed pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherm models, which mainly included physical and chemical adsorption mechanisms. The adsorption was a spontaneous endothermic process. The fly ash/steel slag-based geopolymer had good removal ability for dyes and heavy metal ions, and it could maintain good adsorption performance after three cycles of regeneration. It had potential application in wastewater treatment.     

In situ hypochlorous acid generation for the treatment of textile wastewater

An electrolytic process based on chlorine generation was adopted to treat wastewater containing textile dyes. In situ production of hypochlorous acid was achieved in an undivided electrolytic cell. The cell contained a graphite rod as the anode and a stainless steel sheet as the cathode. The generated chlorine reacts with water leading to the formation of hypochlorous acid and hydrochloric acid. The resultant hypochlorous acid, being an oxidising agent, oxidises the organic components present in the textile wastewater. In this study, the colour in wastewater containing Procion Navy and Procion Red dyes, respectively, was completely removed after 40 min of electrolysis at a constant current density of 39 mA/cm² (where the initial dye concentrations were 3700 and 3200 mg/l, respectively). In the case of the Procion Yellow and composite dyes, complete colour removal occurred after 50 min of electrolysis (with initial dye concentrations of 3500 mg/l). Even though colour removal occurred during the electrolysis process, it required up to 180 min of electrolysis to reduce the COD values for the four dyes (Procion Navy, Red, Yellow and the composite) from the initial levels of 4520, 4200, 4170 and 4283 mg/l to 70, 45, 39 and 52 mg/l, respectively. This clearly indicates that the process removes both colour and organic components present in textile wastewater.     

Synthesis of acrylamide/acrylic acid‐based aluminum flocculant for dye reduction and textile wastewater treatment

Aluminum hydroxide‐poly[acrylamide‐co‐(acrylic acid)], AHAMAA, was synthesized with a redox initiator by solution polymerization in which the effects of reactant contents were optimized. The effects of pH, temperature, and initial dye concentration on Congo red reduction were investigated. A mixture of Congo red and direct blue 71, and the composite textile dye wastewater were investigated. Adsorptions of both dyes were more effective in the nonbuffered solution than those in the buffered solution, and Congo red adsorbed more than direct blue 71 at all pHs. The adsorption of Congo red increased with increasing temperature and its initial concentration. Both dyes obeyed the Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The maximum adsorptions in 100 mg dm^?3 solution were 109 ± 0.5 mg g^?1 and 62 ± 6.6 mg g^?1 for Congo red and direct blue 71, respectively. At 150 mg dm^?3 of the mixed Congo red and direct blue 71, the adsorption was 142 ± 2 mg g^?1 by 643 ± 3 mg dm^?3 AHAMAA. The 40 mg g^?1 dyes of the textile effluent wastewater were adsorbed by 500 mg dm^?3 AHAMAA. AHAMAA could decrease turbidity of the composite wastewater containing a mixture of reactive and direct dyes from 405 to 23 NTU. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 50:1535–1546, 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Electrochemical oxidation of reactive dyes: method validation and application

Electrochemical oxidation is a very effective technique for wastewater processing and, in the textile industry, it can be employed to remove colour from residual dyeing and washing liquors. In previous studies, the main factors were established for the control of the electrochemical removal of reactive dyes from textile wastewater. Mathematical models were proposed for the decolorisation of these dyes and for the electrical consumption. In the present work, these models are analysed and a three-step methodology is established in order to determine whether a dye can be removed from wastewater by electrochemical treatment. This methodology is applied and verified on a further four reactive dyes. The mathematical models are also employed to evaluate the colour removal from textile wastewater samples containing reactive dyes.     

Removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution by adsorption onto zeolite synthesized from coal fly ash and its thermal regeneration

BACKGROUND: The removal of cationic dyes from wastewater is of great importance. Three zeolites synthesized from coal fly ashes (ZFAs) were investigated as adsorbents to remove methylene blue (MB), a cationic dye, from aqueous solutions. Experiments were conducted using the batch adsorption technique under different conditions of initial dye concentration, adsorbent dose, solution pH, and salt concentration. RESULTS: The adsorption isotherm data of MB on ZFAs were fitted well to the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacities of MB by the three ZFAs, calculated using the Langmuir equation, ranged from 23.70 to 50.51 mg g^?1. The adsorption of MB by ZFA was essentially due to electrostatic forces. The measurement of zeta potential indicated that ZFA had a lower surface charge at alkaline pH, resulting in enhanced removal of MB with increasing pH. MB was highly competitive compared with Na⁺, leading to only a < 6% reduction in adsorption in the presence of NaCl up to 1.0 mol L^?1. Regeneration of used ZFA was achieved by thermal treatment. In this study, 90–105% adsorption capacity of fresh ZFA was recovered by heating at 450 °C for 2 h. CONCLUSION: The experimental results suggest that ZFA could be employed as an adsorbent in the removal of cationic dyes from wastewater, and the adsorptive ability of used ZFA can be recovered by thermal treatment. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Emerging bioremediation technologies for the treatment of textile wastewater containing synthetic dyes: a comprehensive review

The tremendous increase in human population and industrialization has exacerbated the existing problem of water pollution to a great extent. The textile industry is the major cause of this problem due to its significant use of organic synthetic dyes as coloring materials during the dyeing process. The presence of color in wastewater is a major environmental concern, as these dyes are resistant to degradation by physio-chemical treatments. Bioremediation is an attractive method that can completely degrade these dyes while also being cost-effective. This comprehensive review aims to provide a brief insight into bioremediation based on some of the latest emerging wastewater treatment technologies for the removal of synthetic dyes. Starting with the importance of decolorization of synthetic dyes and their environmental impacts, different physio-chemical treatment technologies are analyzed with a special emphasis on their limitations. The bioremediation of textile wastewater with detailed biodegradation mechanisms using different bacterial species (bacteria, fungal, algae, enzyme, and mixed culture) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions is thoroughly discussed. In this article, the major factors affecting the implementation of biological treatment are explained. In addition, the latest emerging treatment technologies, such as nano-bio materials, genetic engineering, phytoremediation, electro-bioremediation (microbial electrochemistry technology, MET), and integrated/hybrid technologies (such as biological processes with physio-chemical processes, electro-coagulation, adsorption, ultra-filtration, membrane, and advanced oxidation) are critically reviewed; their challenges and the future perspectives in textile wastewater treatment are also highlighted. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).     

Adsorption of selected dyes on Ti3C2Tx MXene and Al-based metal-organic framework

MXene and metal organic framework (MOF) were used as the main adsorbents to remove synthetic dyes from model wastewater. Methylene blue (MB) and acid blue 80 (AB) were used as the model cationic and anionic synthetic dyes, respectively. To investigate the physicochemical properties of the adsorbents used, we carried out several characterizations using microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, a porosimetry, and a zeta potential analyzer. The surface area of MXene and MOF was 9 and 630 m² g⁻¹, respectively, and their respective isoelectric points were approximately pH 3 and 9. Thus, MXene and MOF exhibited high capacity for MB (~140 mg g⁻¹) and AB (~200 mg g⁻¹) adsorption, respectively due to their electrostatic attractions when the concentrations of the adsorbents and adsorbates were 25 and 10 mg L⁻¹. Furthermore, the MOF was able to capture the MB due mainly to hydrophobic interactions. In terms of the advantages of each adsorbent according to our experimental results, MXene exhibited fast kinetics and high selectivity. Meanwhile, the MOF had a high adsorption capacity for both MB and AB. The adsorption mechanisms of both adsorbents for the removal of MB and AB were clearly explained by the results of our analyses of solution pH, ionic strength, and the presence of divalent cation, anion, or humic acids, as well as other characterizations (i.e., Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). According to our results, MOF and MXene can be used as economical treatments for wastewater containing organic pollutants regardless of charge (e.g., MB and AB), and positively charged one (e.g., MB), respectively.     

木质素衍生吸附材料及其在废水处理中的应用研究进展

木质素是一种广泛存在于植物中的天然酚类高分子,具有来源广泛、含氧官能团丰富、含碳量高等优点。对木质素进行修饰改性、复合、热解炭化能够获得性能优异的木质素衍生吸附材料,在废水处理中具有广泛的应用前景。本文对木质素的分子结构特点进行了概述,总结了木质素基吸附剂的种类及其制备方法,详细介绍了木质素基吸附剂的修饰改性方法,如金属离子、含N、O、S官能团表面修饰以及复合改性等,并综述了木质素基吸附剂在染料、药物、重金属废水处理中的应用研究。最后,对木质素衍生吸附材料目前存在的问题以及未来的研究方向进行了总结和展望,如何实现木质素衍生吸附剂的可控制备和规模化生产,提高吸附剂在实际环境中的适用性是未来的主要研究内容。     

Preparation of chitosan and carboxymethylcellulose-based polyelectrolyte complex hydrogel via SD-A-SGT method and its adsorption of anionic and cationic dye

The excellent properties of the polyelectrolyte complex hydrogels (PECHs) prepared with polysaccharides only, including polyampholyte, low toxicity, green, and clean production, have endowed them great application potentials as the adsorbents for dye-containing wastewater treatments. In the current study, the PECH of chitosan (CTS) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was prepared by semi-dissolution acidification sol–gel transition (SD-A-SGT) method. The hydrogel was formed by the strong electrostatic interaction of cationic  NH₃⁺ groups of CTS and the anionic  COO⁻ groups of CMC. This simple but efficient means exhibited great potentials in constructing PECHs with uniform composition and controllable sol–gel transitions. Molecular dynamics simulation was first employed to predict the formation process and the microstructure of PECHs prepared by SD-A-SGT method. The structure and properties of the CTS-CMC PECHs were also characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, SS ¹³C-NMR, scanning electron microscopy, mechanical tests, and rheological measurements, respectively. Taking the advantage of amphoteric polyelectrolyte properties, adsorption properties of anionic and cationic dyes were investigated using sunset yellow FCF and methylene blue as model dyes, respectively. The PECHs prepared in the present work had good adsorption capacity for both cationic and anionic dyes with maximum adsorption capacity of 212.83 mg/g for sunset yellow FCF and 167.35 mg/g for methylene blue. Therefore, this PECH would be a promising environmentally friendly adsorbent for the treatment of functional molecules with different charges.     

Removal of Astrazone Blue from aqueous solutions onto brown peat. Equilibrium and kinetics studies

The aim of this study is to characterize and assess the sorption potential of brown peat, in relation to colored pollutants from the textile industry wastewater. The objectives of this paper were: the physicochemical, morphological, and mineralogical characterization of brown peat, testing the adsorption capacity of natural and chemically treated peat samples for Astrazone Blue, evaluation of adsorption process from equilibrium isotherm and kinetic point of view. The characteristics of the peat samples were investigated using elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. Experimental data indicated that the brown peat tested confirm a high level of adsorption (removal efficiency >93.00%, adsorption capacity reaching up to 24.27 mg/g) of Astrazone Blue from aqueous solution. The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models were used to find the best equation able to describe the adsorption process. Experimental adsorption data were successfully described by the Langmuir equilibrium isotherm model. This fact is supported by the agreement between the q values obtained using the Langmuir equation (26.32 mg/g), and the ones obtained experimentally (24.27 mg/g). The kinetic studies showed that the pseudo-second-order model described Astrazone Blue sorption kinetics, as confirmed by the high values of R ² , which are over 0.99 for the whole investigated concentration range (200 to 800 mg/L). The use of brown peat adsorbent is more advantageous compared with other materials since it does not require a preliminary treatment, is low-cost and is an eco-friendly adsorbent. Hence, this peat appears to be a viable material for the decontamination of effluents containing dyes.     

Control of the Fenton process for textile wastewater treatment using artificial neural networks

BACKGROUND: The Fenton process is a popular advanced oxidation process (AOP) for treating textile wastewater. However, high consumption of chemical reagents and high production of sludge are typical problems when using this process and in addition, textile wastewater has wide‐ranging characteristics. Therefore, dynamically regulating the Fenton process is critical to reducing operation costs and enhancing process performance. The artificial neural network (ANN) model has been adopted extensively to optimize wastewater treatment. This study presents a novel Fenton process control strategy using ANN models and oxygen reduction potential (ORP) monitoring to treat two synthetic textile wastewaters containing two common dyes. RESULTS: Experimental results indicated that the ANN models can predict precisely the colour and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies for synthetic textile wastewaters with correlation coefficients (R²) of 0.91–0.99. The proposed control strategy based on these ANN models effectively controls the Fenton process for various effluent colour targets. For treating the RB49 synthetic wastewater to meet the effluent colour targets of 550 and 1500 ADMI units, the required Fe⁺² doses were 13.0–84.3 and 5.5–34.6 mg L^?1 (Fe⁺²/H₂O₂ = 3.0), resulting in average effluent colour values of 520 and 1494 units. On the other hand, an effluent colour target of 550 ADMI units was achieved for RBB synthetic wastewater. The required Fe⁺² doses were 14.6–128.0 mg L^?1; the average effluent colour values were 520 units. CONCLUSION: The Fenton process for textile wastewater treatment was effectively controlled using a control strategy applying the ANN models and ORP monitoring, giving the benefit of chemical cost savings. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

From pollutant to solution of wastewater pollution: Synthesis of activated carbon from textile sludge for dye adsorption

Adsorption is an important process in wastewater treatment,and conversion of waste materials to adsorbent offers a solution to high material cost related to the use of commercial activated carbon.This study investigated the adsorption behaviour of Reactive Black 5(RB5)and methylene blue(MB)onto activated carbon produced from textile sludge(TSAC).The activated carbon was synthesized through chemical activation of precursor followed with carbonization at 650°C under nitrogen flow.Effects of time(0–200 min),pH(2–10),temperature(25–60°C),initial dye concentration(0–200 mg·L~(-1)),and adsorbent dosage(0.01–0.15 g)on dye removal efficiency were investigated.Preliminary screening revealed that TSAC synthesized via H_2SO_4activation showed higher adsorption behaviour than TSAC activated by KCl and ZnCl_2.The adsorption capacity of TSAC was found to be 11.98 mg·g~(-1)(RB5)and 13.27 mg·g~(-1)(MB),and is dependent on adsorption time and initial dye concentration.The adsorption data for both dyes were well fitted to Freundlich isotherm model which explains the heterogeneous nature of TSAC surface.The dye adsorption obeyed pseudo-second order kinetic model,thus chemisorption was the controlling step.This study reveals potential of textile sludge in removal of dyes from aqueous solution,and further studies are required to establish the applicability of the synthesized adsorbent for the treatment of waste water containing toxic dyes from textile industry.     

Adsorptive removal of dye from real textile wastewater using graphene oxide produced via modifications of hummers method

Abstract

This work focused on producing different graphene oxide (GO) samples for further application in the adsorptive removal of dyes from real textile wastewater. Among all conditions tested, the sample produced using KMnO₄ and no sonication bath exhibited the best performance. Before the experiments using wastewater, kinetics and equilibrium of adsorption studies were performed with Methylene Blue (MB) dye. Experimental data showed the isotherm fitted the Freundlich model, and kinetic results fitted the pseudo-second order model. Theoretical q_max was 308.11?mg.g^?1 and over 90% removal of MB was reached in approximately 5?min. Although GO has been widely applied to remove cationic and anionic dyes from water, not many studies have presented GO as an adsorbent for real textile wastewater treatment. In 30?min, GO removed nearly 85% of turbidity and over 60% of color from a real sample, indicating that GO might be an excellent alternative to treat textile wastewater.     

Large scale fabrication of porous boron nitride microrods with tunable pore size for superior copper (II) ion adsorption

Herein, large scale fabrication of porous boron nitride (BN) microrods has been achieved via a facile process, which involves the synthesis of melamine diborate precursors and subsequent thermal treatment process. The fabrication can be scaled up to ultra-large scale which is limited by the furnace. The characterization results show that the as-obtained products are porous BN microrods with diameters in the range of ten to tens of micrometers and length of a few millimeters, respectively. The specific surface area and porosity of these porous BN microrods are tunable by adjusting the synthesis processes of precursors. A highest specific surface area of 653.66?m²/g is obtained for the sample of BN-4, corresponding to the differential pore volume of 0.289?cm³/(g?nm) and pore size of about 1.928?nm. Further measurement shows that the as-obtained porous BN microrods possess excellent copper ion adsorption property with a highest adsorption capacity of 365.4?mg/g. This adsorption capacity is superior to those of most copper ion adsorbents reported in recent literature. The high copper ion adsorption capacity combining with the unique properties of hexagonal BN makes them promising candidates for copper ions adsorption in practical wastewater treatment.     

New carbon composite adsorbents for the removal of textile dyes from aqueous solutions: Kinetic,equilibrium, and thermodynamic studies

New carbon composite materials were prepared by pyrolysis of mixture of coffee wastes and red mud at 700 °C with the inorganic: organic ratios of 1.9 (CC-1.9) and 2.2 (CC-2.2). These adsorbents were used to remove reactive orange 16 (RO-16) and reactive red 120 (RR-120) textile dyes from aqueous solution. The CC-1.9 and CC-2.2 materials were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Nitrogen adsorption/desorption curves, scanning electron Microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The kinetic of adsorption data was fitted by general order kinetic model. A three-parameter isotherm model, Liu isotherm model, gave the best fit of the equilibrium data (298 to 323 K). The maximum amounts of dyes removed at 323 K were 144.8 (CC-1.9) and 139.5 mg g^?1 (CC-2.2) for RO-16 dye and 95.76 (CC-1.9) and 93.80 mg g^?1 (CC-2.2) for RR-120 dye. Two simulated dyehouse effluents were used to investigate the application of the adsorbents for effluent treatment.     

Adsorption of dyes on activated carbons: influence of surface chemical groups

The surface chemistry of a commercial activated carbon has been selectively modified, without changing significantly its textural properties, by means of chemical treatments, using HNO₃, H₂O₂, NH₃, and thermal treatments under a flow of H₂ or N₂. The resultant samples were characterized in terms of their surface chemistry and textural properties, and subsequently tested in the removal of different classes of dyes. It was shown that the surface chemistry of the activated carbon plays a key role in dye adsorption performance. The basic sample obtained by thermal treatment under H₂ flow at 700 °C is the best material for the adsorption of most of the dyes tested. For anionic dyes (reactive, direct and acid) a close relationship between the surface basicity of the adsorbents and dye adsorption was shown, the interaction between the oxygen-free Lewis basic sites and the free electrons of the dye molecule being the main adsorption mechanism. For cationic dyes (basic) the acid oxygen-containing surface groups show a positive effect but thermally treated samples still present good performances, showing the existence of two parallel adsorption mechanisms involving electrostatic and dispersive interactions. The conclusions obtained for each dye individually were confirmed in the colour removal from a real textile process effluent.     

Application of ecological adsorbent in the removal of reactive dyes from textile effluents

BACKGROUND: The capacity and mechanism of adsorption of the reactive dyes monoazo (RR2) and diazo (RR141), using a new adsorbent with a strong ecological appeal developed from the sludge of the textile effluent treatment process, were investigated. The kinetics and adsorption isotherms were determined at different temperatures and salt concentrations. After determination of the best experimental conditions for adsorption for both dyes, tests were carried out in fixed‐bed adsorption columns. RESULTS: For both dyes, there was a reduction in the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent developed when the system operated at temperatures above 40 °C. When 10% (by mass) of sodium chloride was added to the adsorbate RR141 the maximum adsorption increased from 66.67 mg g^?1 to 78.74 mg g^?1. For both dyes, the addition of sodium sulfate did not favor significantly the adsorption. The results obtained for scale‐up of the laboratory data for the adsorption columns indicated that the operating time with reactive dye diazo is 43.5% longer than that for monoazo. CONCLUSION: The adsorbent studied was shown to be a very promising alternative in terms of an environmentally friendly process. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Spent green tea leaves for decolourisation of raw textile industry wastewater

True colour measurements of wastewater samples, in terms of American Dye Manufacturers' Institute values, were used to evaluate the effectiveness of decolourisation of textile wastewater using spent green tea leaf powder waste. Raw wastewater samples with a true colour of 868 ADMI were used in the batch adsorption experiments. Results revealed that the true colour removal efficiency of the raw textile wastewater was high in acidic solution and at high temperature, indicating an endothermic nature of the system. The major functional groups of the green tea leaf powder waste involved in adsorption were identified by Fourier Transform‐infrared spectroscopy analysis. Adsorption kinetic data were modelled using the modified Freundlich and intraparticle diffusion kinetics equations. Fitting results of the Langmuir adsorption isotherm showed that the adsorption capacity of the green tea leaf powder waste was 775 ADMI g^?1, which is higher than that of powder activated carbon (526 ADMI g^?1). The low activation energy values (13.9 kJ mol^?1) suggested that adsorption was governed by a diffusion process and the reaction involved a physisorption mechanism. From the perspectives of waste utilisation, remarkable colour adsorption capacity and inexpensive and abundant availability, green tea leaf waste is an attractive alternative for decolourisaton of textile wastewater. Because high temperature favours colour removal, green tea leaf powder can be directly applied in raw textile wastewater treatment.