Decolorization of Acid Dye Using Lowcost Organic Adsorbents

Abstract

Dyes are extensively used in industries. Dye color in water courses reduces photosynthetic activity which further affects the aquatic life. It also causes skin cancer and allergies to human beings. It's imperative to remove dye color from an aqueous dye solution. The objective of the present study is to find the efficiency of low-cost organic adsorbents in the decolorization of Color Index Acid blue 45 dye from an aqueous solution. The organic adsorbents used in the present study are Gigantea Leaves (GL), Curcuma Longa Leaves (CLL), Moringa Oleifera (MO) and Citrus Sinensis (CS). The study consists of nonagitated flow experiments at optimum pH with varying dosages and contact time. The results showed that excellent color removal of dye can be achieved with adsorbents at optimum pH of 4 with Gigantea Leaves of 85%, good color removal of 78% and 76% with Curcuma Longa Leaves and Moringa Oleifera, and, moderate color removal of 53% with Citrus Sinensis. The isothermal equilibrium sorption data was well fitted into the Freundlich Isotherm. Kinetic studies states that chemisorption is the rate limiting step. Gigantea leaves, Curcuma Longa and Moringa Oleifera show great promise in decolorizing aqueous solution of C.I. Acid Blue 45.