Removal of cationic dyes from aqueous solutions by kaolin: Kinetic and equilibrium studies

Experimental investigations were carried out using commercially available kaolin to adsorb two different toxic cationic dyes namely crystal violet and brilliant green from aqueous medium. Kaolin was characterized by performing particle size distribution, BET surface area measurement and XRD analysis. The effects of initial dye concentration, contact time, adsorbent dose, stirring speed, pH, salt concentration and temperature were studied in batch mode. The extent of adsorption was strongly dependent on pH of solution. Free energy of adsorption (ΔG⁰), enthalpy (ΔH⁰) and entropy (ΔS⁰) changes were calculated. Adsorption kinetic was verified by pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intra-particle-diffusion models. The rate of adsorption of both crystal violet and brilliant green followed the pseudo-second-order model for the dye concentrations studied in the present case. The dye adsorption process was found to be external mass transfer controlled at earlier stage and intra-particle diffusion controlled at later stage. Calculated external mass transfer coefficient showed that crystal violet dye adsorbed faster than brilliant green on kaolin. Adsorption of crystal violet and brilliant green on kaolin followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm.