Development of chitosan/Spirulina bio‐blend films and its biosorption potential for dyes

Chitosan/Spirulina bio‐blends (CSBB) in films form were developed to be an alternative/renewable biosorbent, able to remove anionic and cationic dyes from aqueous solutions. CSBB potential as biosorbent was investigated for cationic dye Methylene Blue (MB), and anionic dyes Tartrazine Yellow (TY) and Reactive Black 5 (RB5). Chitosan and Spirulina samples were obtained and characterized, and CSBB films were prepared with different chitosan/Spirulina ratios. The CSBB films characteristics, as, mechanical properties, thermal profile, crystallinity, functional groups, morphology, and biosorption potential were strongly dependent of chitosan/Spirulina ratio. CSBB films preserved its mechanical structures at pH from 4.0 to 8.0. The biosorption capacities were 120, 110, and 100 mg g^?1 for RB5, TY, and MB, respectively. The increase of chitosan amount favored the TY and RB5 biosorption; however, the increase of Spirulina amount favored the MB biosorption. Thus, the CSBB in film form is a renewable biosorbent suitable to remove anionic and cationic dyes from aqueous solutions. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44580.     

The Removal of Textile Dyes with Cross-Linked Chitosan-Poly(acrylamide) Adsorbent Hydrogels

This study examined the behaviors and mechanisms of chitosan (CS)-poly(acrylamide) (PAAM) full interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN) hydrogels as an adsorbent to remove EY-4GL and S-Blue textile dyes from an aqueous solution. CS-PAAM IPN hydrogels were prepared by acrylamide monomer polymerization in the presence of a natural polymer, e.g., chitosan. N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAM) and glutaraldehyde (GLA) were selected to cross-link PAAM and CS chains and a full-IPN structure formed simultaneously. Kinetic swelling studies of CS-PAAM IPNs were carried out with deionized water and aqueous dye solutions. The experimental data clearly suggested that the swelling process obeys second-order kinetics. Network and diffusion parameters for CS-PAAM and PAAM hydrogels were calculated and it was observed that these IPN hydrogels have high cross-linking efficiencies in comparison to PAAM hydrogels. Adsorption of textile dyes onto hydrogels was studied by a batch adsorption technique at 23°C and 40°C, and it was seen that the higher temperature increased the dye adsorption onto the hydrogels. L type (Lan gmuir) adsorption isotherms, according to Giles classification system, were established at the end of adsorption experiments. The prepared IPN hydrogels show good ability to uptake textile dyes from wastewater.     

Dyes Adsorption from Aqueous Solutions by Chitosan

In this study the ability of chitosan to remove acid, basic, reactive, and direct dyestuffs by adsorption was studied. The effect of several factors influencing dye adsorption such as dye concentration, grain size, pH, and temperature were investigated. Desorption of dyes at different pH was also examined. It was shown that the adsorption capacities of chitosan were comparatively high for acid and direct dyes and that the adsorption was controlled by the acidity of the solution. The kinetics of adsorption were found to be of pseudo second order. Batch isotherm studies showed that adsorption of dyes from aqueous solution by chitosan was described by the Langmuir equation.     

Chitosan/polyaniline hybrid for the removal of cationic and anionic dyes from aqueous solutions

Nanostructured chitosan/polyaniline (CH/PANI) hybrid was synthesized via in situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of chitosan. The CH/PANI hybrid was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The CH/PANI hybrid had a nanofibrous structure with an average diameter of 70 nm. This hybrid was employed as an ecofriendly and efficient adsorbent with high adsorption capacity for the removal of Acid Green 25 (AG) and methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. AG and MB were used as anionic and cationic model dyes, respectively. The CH/PANI adsorbent showed high dependence on the pH of the medium with an excellent adsorption performance and regeneration manner. The kinetics and adsorption isotherms were studied. The CH/PANI hybrid follows the pseudo second-order adsorption kinetics and Temkin isotherm model for the adsorption of both AG and MB dyes. This assumes that the enthalpy of dyes molecules decreases with the adsorption on heterogeneous surface with various kinds of adsorption sites and as well as the ability to form multilayers of the dye. Also, intraparticle diffusion was found to play an important role in the adsorption mechanism. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 240.4 mg g⁻¹ of AG at pH 4 and 81.3 mg g⁻¹ of MB at pH 11. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47056.     

Adsorption and desorption properties of cationic polyethylene film gels to organic anions and their regeneration

An investigation was undertaken on the adsorption and desorption properties of 2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate grafted polyethylene (PE‐g‐PDMAEMA) films to anionic dye anions with one to three sulfonic groups in response to pH and temperature changes. The amounts of dye anions adsorbed on the PE‐g‐PDMAEMA films passed through the maximum values at about pH 3 because of an increase in the protonation of dimethylamino groups caused by a decrease in the pH value. The amounts of adsorbed dye anions decreased below pH 3 because the ionic strength increased with the addition of HCl to adjust the initial pH values of the aqueous dye solutions. The amounts of adsorbed dye anions decreased with an increase in the number of sulfonic groups in the dye molecules at the same pH value because electrostatic repulsion was generated between free sulfonic groups of the dye anions adsorbed onto the PE‐g‐PDMAEMA films and free dye anions in the medium. A large number of dye anions adsorbed were desorbed from the PE‐g‐PDMAEMA film with initial pH values above 11.0. The cyclic processes of adsorption at pH 3.0 and desorption at pH 11.0 were repeated without considerable fatigue. The PE‐g‐PDMAEMA films showed practically regenerative adsorption and desorption behavior in response to the pH changes. In addition, when the dye‐anion‐adsorbed PE‐g‐PDMAEMA films were alternately immersed in water at two different temperatures, dye anions were desorbed in water at higher temperatures without any chemical agents because of the deprotonation of dimethylamino groups and thermosensitive contraction of grafted PDMAEMA chains. These results indicate that PE‐g‐PDMAEMA films can be applied as regenerative ion‐exchange membranes for adsorption and desorption processes of anionic compounds in response to the pH and temperature. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 381–391, 2006     

Study of the Influence of Gemini Cationic Surfactants on the Dyeing and Fastness Properties of Polyester Fabrics Using Naphthalimide Dyes

In this paper, the dyeing and fastness properties of three monoazo naphthalimide dyes including different imide groups (dye 1: ethyl amine, dye 2: ethyl glycinate and dye 3: glycine) on a polyester fabric were investigated in the presence of two gemini cationic surfactants (symbolized as 12‐4‐12 or 14‐4‐14) and a conventional single chain surfactant, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB). The color strength (K/S) of naphthalimide dyes on polyester fabric was measured through the reflectance spectrophotometric method, and the values obtained in the presence of different cationic surfactants increased in the order of dye 3 < dye 2 < dye 1. Although the K/S values indicated that the gemini cationic surfactants had almost no effect on the dyeing behavior of dye 1, but they were effective in dyeing ability of dye 2 and dye 3. The data for dye 2 demonstrated that build up of polyester fabrics in the presence of gemini surfactants are more than the conventional cationic surfactant, and also K/S values of dye 3 on polyester fabrics were in the order: DTAB > 12‐4‐12 > 14‐4‐14. It was found that the washing and rubbing fastness properties improved with increasing the concentration of surfactants. In addition, the sublimation fastness of dye 3 was more than the other dyes owing to the presence of a polar group in its chemical structure, and the light fastness of naphthalimide dyes on polyester fabrics was generally moderate.     

Dye removal from colored textile wastewater using chitosan in binary systems

In this paper, the removal of two anionic dyes from textile effluent in single and binary systems was investigated. Direct Red 23 and Acid Green 25 were used as anionic dyes. The surface characteristics of chitosan were investigated using Fourier transform infrared. The effects of operational parameters such as chitosan dosage, initial dye concentration, salt and pH on dye removal were studied. The isotherms of dye adsorption were investigated. It was found that the isotherm data of Direct Red 23 and Acid Green 25 in single and binary systems followed Tempkin isotherm. In addition adsorption kinetics of dyes was studied in single and binary systems and rate sorption was found to conform to pseudo-second order kinetics with a good correlation. Results indicated that chitosan could be used as a biosorbent to remove the anionic dyes from contaminated watercourses in both single and binary systems of pollutants.     

Synthesis of chemically modified chitosans with a higher fatty acid glycidyl and their adsorption abilities for anionic and cationic dyes

Novel chitosan‐based materials with a higher fatty acid glycidyl as the chemically modified agent were synthesized and the adsorption ability of the resulting polymers has been evaluated for typical anionic and cationic dyes. The successful modification was confirmed by the infrared spectroscopic measurements. As the degree of substitution was decreased, the adsorption ability of the chemically modified chitosans for anionic dyes at the higher dye concentration was increased, and the modified chitosans with a lower degree of substitution showed a higher adsorption ability than that of an activated carbon at the higher dye concentration. For cationic dyes, the chemically modified chitosan showed a good adsorption power, especially when the adsorption power was evaluated by the flow methods. The improved adsorption ability of a chemically modified chitosan material was also confirmed by comparing it with that of a crosslinked chitosan material. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 2423–2428, 2005     

A Review of the Use of Chitosan for the Removal of Particulate and Dissolved Contaminants

Abstract

Chitosan has unique properties among biopolymers, especially due to the presence of primary amino groups. Chitosan has been used for the chelation of metal ions in near‐neutral solution, the complexation of anions in acidic solution (cationic properties due to amine protonation), the coagulation of negatively charged contaminants under acidic conditions, and for precipitative flocculation at pH above the pKa of chitosan. The coagulation and flocculation properties can be used to treat particulate suspensions (organic or inorganic) and also to treat dissolved organic materials (including dyes and humic acid). This paper will give an overview of the principal results obtained in the treatment of various suspensions and solutions: (a) bentonite suspensions; (b) organic suspensions; (c) anionic dye solutions; and (d) humic acid solutions. Stoichiometry and charge restabilization were determined for the coagulation of humic acid, kaolin, and organic dyes with chitosan, indicating charge neutralization as the dominant mechanism for removal. Charge patch destabilization and bridging mechanisms were inferred in other cases, based on the effects of the apparent molecular weight of the chitosan preparations and effectiveness of sub‐stoichiometric doses of chitosan. For dye solutions, results showed that color can be removed either by sorption onto solid‐state chitosan or by coagulation‐flocculation using dissolved‐state chitosan; the reactivity of amine groups was significantly increased when dissolved chitosan was used. For humic materials, chitosan can be used as a primary coagulant or as a flocculant after coagulation with alum or other inexpensive coagulants. The influence of the degree of deacetylation and the molecular weight of chitosan on its performance as coagulant/flocculant is illustrated by several examples.     

Chitosan intercalated montmorillonite: Preparation, characterization and cationic dye adsorption

Chitosan intercalated montmorillonite (Chi-MMT) was prepared by dispersing sodium montmorillonite (Na⁺-MMT) into chitosan solution at 60 °C for 24 h. The Chi-MMT was characterized by XRD, XRF and FT-IR. The intercalation was accomplished via the ion-exchange of Na⁺ ions with –NH₃⁺ of chitosan, resulting in the expansion of d₀₀₁ from 1.42 nm of Na⁺-MMT to 2.21 nm of Chi-MMT. The chitosan content in the Chi-MMT measured by TGA was about 17 mass%. The adsorption capacity of Chi-MMT was investigated in comparison with the starting Na⁺-MMT and chitosan using three different cationic dyes, i.e. basic blue 9 (BB9), basic blue 66 (BB66) and basic yellow 1 (BY1). The Chi-MMT showed the highest adsorption capacity in the range of 46–49 mg/g when the initial dye concentration was 500 mg/L, being equivalent to 92–99 wt.% of dye removal. The adsorption capacities of Chi-MMT for all basic dyes increased with an increase of initial dye concentration. An increase of adsorption capability of Chi-MMT was attributed to the existence of intercalate-chitosan. It could enlarge the pore structure of Chi-MMT, facilitating the penetration of macromolecular dyes, and also electrostatically interact with the applied dyes. These results indicated the competency of Chi-MMT adsorbent for basic dye adsorption.     

Removal of reactive dyes using organofunctionalized mesoporous silicas

Mesoporous inorganic–organic hybrids with mono- or bifunctional pendant chains anchored onto the silica backbones were investigated for reactive dye removal. The organofunctionalized silicas obtained from silylating agents contain the functional groups: 3-aminopropyl, octadecyldimethyl(silylpropyl)ammonium and 3-mercaptopropyl. The pendant electrophilic chains attached on the new porous silicas interact with the negative charge of industrial textile reactive dyes: yellow GR, red RB and blue RN. The best maximum sorption results were obtained for both mercapto and amino groups, to give 351, 388 and 203 mg g^?1 for GR, RN and RB dyes. These silicas also have the advantage of undergoing sorption without initial pH adjustment and surface saturation in short times. The high sorption capacity is due to the combination of properties associated with higher pore volume, surface area, smaller particle and the presence of two different functional groups, also emphasizing the presence of one mercapto group in the hybrid. These silicas, mainly the structurally bifunctional arrangement, with available disposition of pendant chains, are promising for textile effluent removal.     

Azo and anthraquinone dye decolorization in relation to its molecular structure using soluble Trichosanthes dioica peroxidase supplemented with redox mediator

In this study we investigated the decolorizing ability of Trichosanthes dioica-derived soluble peroxidase on structurally complex azo and anthraquinone dyes in the presence of redox mediators. Our results show that riboflavin acted as a better redox mediator than antraquinone-2, 6-disulfonate (AQDS). Riboflavin served as an efficient electron transferor than AQDS in the reduction of azo dyes, by contrast with anthraquinone dyes. Although the extent of decolorization (expressed as percent dye decolorization) varied from one dye to the other, maximum decolorization was achieved for the case when suspensions containing 0.45 EU (Enzyme Units)/ml and 0.2 mM riboflavin at pH 5.0 were incubated for 2 h at 40 °C.     

Adsorption and desorption properties of expanded poly(tetrafluoroethylene) films grafted with DMAEMA and their regeneration

An investigation was undertaken on the adsorption and desorption properties of the expanded poly (tetrafluoroethylene) (ePTFE) films grafted with 2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) to anionic dye anions with one to three sulfonic groups in response to temperature changes. The amount of adsorbed metanil yellow (MY) anions increased with the grafted amount and most of the dimethylamino groups appended to the grafted PDMAEMA chains worked as an adsorption site to MY anions for the DMAEMA‐grafted ePTFE (ePTFE‐g‐PDMAEMA) films with the grafted amounts of higher than 1.1 mmol/g. When the dye‐anion‐adsorbed ePTFE‐g‐PDMAEMA films were alternately immersed in water at two different temperatures, dye anions were desorbed from the ePTFE‐g‐PDMAEMA films at higher temperatures without any chemical agents. The amount of desorbed dye anions increased with an increase in the temperature of water from 40 to 80°C. Desorption of dye anions is caused by either deprotonation of dimethylamino groups appended to the grafted PDMAEMA chains or thermosensitive contraction of the grafted PDMAEMA chains. These results indicate that the ePTFE‐g‐PDMAEMA films can be applied as a regenerative ion‐exchange membrane for adsorption and desorption processes of anionic compounds in response to the temperature change. The thermally regenerative ion‐exchange properties of the ePTFE‐g‐PDMAEMA films was superior to that of the PE‐g‐PDMAEMA films reported in our previous article in the fact that the total degree of desorption was higher for the ePTFE‐g‐PDMAEMA films. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

One‐bath dyeing of polyester/cotton blends with disperse and bis‐3‐carboxypyridinium‐s‐triazine reactive dyes. Part 2: Application of substantive reactive dyes to cotton at 130 °C and neutral pH†

An earlier paper reported that the reactive dyes (not the disperse dyes) were responsible for the inability to achieve heavy depths of shade, when dyeing polyester/cotton blends by a one‐bath process at 130 °C and neutral pH using reactive dyes containing a 3‐carboxypyridinium‐s‐triazinyl group. It was shown that the poor colour yield of the bis‐3‐carboxypyridinium‐s‐triazine reactive dyes was because of their low exhaustion level at 130 °C and pH of 7.0–7.5. We now report the synthesis and evaluation of some bis‐3‐carboxypyridinium‐s‐triazine reactive dye structures, possessing highly substantive chromophores, as a means of obtaining high colour yield, on 100% unmercerised cotton, under the specified dyeing conditions. The technical performance of these dyes under such conditions was compared with that of selected Novacron (Cibacron) LS and Procion H‐E dyes, applied under their recommended (atmospheric) dyeing conditions.     

A molecularly imprinted polymer via a salicylaldiminato‐based cobalt(III) complex: A highly selective solid‐phase extractant for anionic reactive dyes

A novel molecularly imprinted polymer based on tert‐butyl acrylate (MIP‐BA) was fabricated with the assistance of a cobalt(III)‐based catalyst bearing an N‐salicylidene isopropylamine ligand [(SPA)₂CoCl]. After initiation with methyl aluminoxane, the catalyst system was found to be active toward the polymerization of tert‐butyl acrylate (t‐BA) in the presence of a polar template (Cibacron reactive red dye) and divinylbenzene (DVB) as a crosslinker. Polymerization experiments, including those of t‐BA, t‐BA, and DVB and t‐BA and dye, were also carried out. Isolated blank polymers and MIP‐BA were analyzed with a variety of techniques, including differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, gel permeation chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. In general, the complex showed moderate polymerization activity and produced high‐molar‐mass poly(tert‐butyl acrylate); however, a decrease in the monomer conversion was observed upon the addition of the dye and/or the crosslinker. The effect of imprinting was obvious when the adsorption capacity of MIP‐BA measured at pH 6 for red dye (the imprinted molecule) was increased from 9.2 to 90.4 mg/g after imprinting. Competitive adsorption studies revealed that the dye‐imprinted polymer enabled the efficient uptake of red dye, even in the presence of blue and yellow dyes that had similar chemical structures to the imprinted molecule. The selectivity coefficients were 43 and 36 with respect to the blue and yellow dyes, respectively. The proposed polymerization procedure could be extended to other anionic polar reactive dyes and polar reactive polymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Dye adsorption and desorption properties of Mentha pulegium in single and binary systems

This article deals with the dye adsorption and desorption properties of Mentha pulegium (MP) from single and binary (mixture of dyes) systems. Direct Red 80 (DR80) and Acid Black 26 (AB26) were used as model dyes. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was used to investigate the biosorbent characteristics. The effects of biosorbent dosage, contact time, dye concentration, salt, and pH on dye removal were studied. The biosorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamic were studied. In addition, dye desorption was carried out to study adsorbent recovery. The results showed that the isotherm data of single and binary systems of dyes followed the Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption kinetic of the dyes was found to conform to a pseudosecond order kinetic model. Desorption tests showed maximum dye releasing of 97% for DR80 and 95% for AB26 in single system and 92% for DR80 and 94% for AB26 in binary system of dyes at pH 12. The thermodynamic data showed that the biosorption process is spontaneous, endothermic, and a physisorption reaction. It can be concluded that MP is an ecofriendly biosorbent to remove dyes from single and binary systems. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Azo dye removal by Moringa oleifera seed extract coagulation

In this paper, the ability of Moringa oleifera seed extract–among other natural coagulants–to remove several different types of dyes has been researched. Moringa oleifera has been demonstrated to have a high removal ability for anionic dyes. This study is particularly focused on testing the removal of an azo dye such as Chicago Sky Blue 6B (CSB). It has taken out the fast kinetic of coagulant action and the high potential of this coagulant agent to treat wastewater from dyestuff. Up to 99% of CSB removal has been achieved with M. oleifera extract dosage of 150, 200 and 250 mg l^?1 for 100, 160 and 200 mg l^?1 of initial CSB concentration, respectively. Temperature does not affect the coagulant process and a pH level greater than 8 has a negative influence. Lower CSB percentage removal is achieved by increasing the initial dye concentration, but an optimum relationship between dye amount removed and M. oleifera extract amount has been established and it appears to be between 0.7 and 0.9, depending on the initial dye concentration and the bulk of the remaining dye concentration.     

Effect of Dye‐Bath pH on Photostability of Dyed Nylon 66

Nylon 66 films were dyed in aqueous dye‐bath with C. I. Acid Blue 25 (1‐amino‐4‐(aminophenyl)‐2‐anthraquinone sodium sulfonate) at various pH values ranging from 2.0 to 7.0. Films were exposed to polychromatic irradiation (λ ⪈ 290 nm) at 60°C in air. The extent of photo‐oxidation was monitored by FT‐IR spectroscopy. Fading of dye with polychromatic irradiation was monitored by UV spectroscopy. We observed a peculiar effect of dye‐bath pH on the photostability of dyed nylon 66. Samples were more stable when dyed at pH 3 and above that (up to pH 7), whereas the samples dyed at pH < 3.0 showed sensitized photo‐oxidative degradation in nylon 66. Formation of quaternary ammonium salt on dye‐chromophore was considered responsible for the pH‐controlled behavior of anthraquinone acid dyes. The dyeing pH significantly effects the photofading behavior of dyed samples. The effect of dye‐bath pH on photofading of the dyed samples was more pronounced at lower dyeing pH and prevailed up to pH 4. The hydronium ion concentration was considered to be responsible for the enhanced fading of dye for the samples dyed at the lower pH.     

Decolorisation of synthetic dyes by crude laccase from Rigidoporus lignosus W1

BACKGROUND: Effluents from the dyeing process containing dyes are difficult to degrade biologically. Therefore enzymatic dye decolorisation has received considerable attention recently. In this study the dye decolorisation potential of crude laccase from the white rot fungus Rigidoporus lignosus W1 was demonstrated on an anthraquinone dye, Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR), and a triphenylmethane dye, malachite green (MG). Effects of pH, temperature and ionic strength on laccase activity and decolorisation efficiency were investigated. RESULTS: Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate PAGE confirmed the decolorisation ability of the crude enzyme on RBBR and MG. A single laccase with a molecular mass of about 40 kDa appeared to be involved in the process. Efficient enzymatic decolorisation without redox mediator was achieved, with 39 mg L^?1 MG being removed within 2 h and 160 mg L^?1 RBBR within 1 h at 60 °C and pH 4.5. Although the laccase activity was inhibited in the presence of NaCl, it was renatured gradually in low concentrations of NaCl (<0.8 mol L^?1), resulting in unusual dye decolorisation kinetics. Surprisingly, unusual storage stability at alkaline pH was observed, with the laccase activity being enhanced 1.5–2‐fold after 3 h of incubation. CONCLUSION: Crude laccase with unusual storage stability from the fungus R. lignosus W1 showed excellent decolorisation ability on RBBR and MG without redox mediator. This laccase would seem to be a good candidate for application in dye decolorisation and textile effluent biotreatment. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation of poly (acrylic acid) containing core‐shell type resin for removal of basic dyes

BACKGROUND: A core‐shell type carboxylic acid modified resin was prepared and dye sorption characteristics of the resin were investigated. The resulting grafted resin material has been shown to be an efficient sorbent for removal of basic dyes from water as a result of the carboxylic acid group's affinity towards basic dye molecules. RESULTS: The resin was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and titrimetric methods. The basic dyes (methylene blue and crystal violet) were removed by contacting the swollen resin with aqueous dye solutions at room temperature. The adsorption capacities of resin were determined by colorimetric analysis of the residual dye content in the adsorption medium, which gave capacities for methylene blue and crystal violet of 300 and 250 mg g^?1 resin, respectively. The prepared resin is also able to remove basic dyes completely from dilute aqueous dye solutions. Batch kinetic sorption experiments determined that a pseudo‐second‐order rate kinetic model was applicable. CONCLUSION: Flexibility of the polymer side chains is expected to provide pseudo‐homogeneous reaction conditions and easy accessibility of the functional groups involved. The adsorbents are expected to have the advantage of mobility of the grafted chains in the removal of basic dyes from aqueous mixtures. The resin has potential as an adsorbent for removal of basic dyes for use over a wide pH range. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry