Adsorption of anionic dyes using composites based on basic polyelectrolytes and physically activated carbon

• Published in: Desalination and water treatment Vol. 230; pp. 346 - 358
• Main Authors: Herrera-González, Ana María, Reyes-Angeles, Mari Carmen, Peláez-Cid, Alejandra Alicia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01-08-2021
• Subjects: Adsorption; Anionic dyes; Basic polyelectrolytes; Composites; Physically activated carbon; Physically activated carbon; Anionic dyes; Composites; Adsorption; Basic polyelectrolytes
• ISSN: 1944-3986; 1944-3986
• DOI: 10.5004/dwt.2021.27445

This work reports the design and synthesis of two composite materials based on basic polyelectrolytes and physically activated carbon, useful in the adsorption of textile dyes present in aqueous solutions and wastewater. The synthesis of basic polyelectrolytes poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) and poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) was made by means of free radical polymerization. The carbon made from a vegetable residue, the prickly pear peel (CarTunaF), was thermally activated. Composite materials CarTunaF2VP and CarTunaF4VP were obtained from CarTunaF and polybasic polyelectrolytes P2VP and P4VP with a ratio of 67:33 wt. Using the four adsorbents P2VP, P4VP, CarTunaF2VP, and CarTunaF4VP, it was observed that the dyes studied, Direct Blue 80, Direct Turquoise 86, and Direct Orange 26 were adsorbed in the range between 46.1 and 188.7 mg g–1 by means of electro-static interactions. The polyelectrolytes removed between 90% and 100% of anionic dyes, and the composite materials removed between 68% and 93% of the dyes. By using adsorbent materials in the treatment of wastewater from the textile industry, an improvement in the quality of the wastewater was observed by decreasing its pH, chemical oxygen demand, conductivity, and color considerably.