Removal of basic dyes from aqueous solutions using natural clay

Adsorption properties of natural clay (from Eski?ehir of Turkey) were investigated by depending on different adsorption conditions such as different initial dye concentrations and contact times. The chemical composition of the natural clay was analyzed by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). The removal of basic dyes such as Nile Blue (NB) and Brilliant Cresyl Blue (BCB) from aqueous solutions using natural clay in this study was described. After the equilibrium adsorption time of 8 h, the adsorption capacities for NB and BCB reach about 25 mg/g and 42 mg/g, respectively. Lagergren kinetic equation was used to test the experimental data to examine the controlling mechanism of adsorption processes. Adsorption data of the BCB and NB onto natural clay were fitted well by the pseudo-first-order model. The adsorption isotherms data were correlated with the Freundlich equation and the Freundlich constants K_f (mg/g) and n (intensity of adsorption) were calculated. The r² (regression coefficients) values were 0.9835 and 0.9849 for NB and BCB, respectively. The adsorption capacities of natural clay for NB and BCB have the following order: BCB > NB.