Study of dyestuff removal from solution by sunflower seed husk

Abstract

The removal of dyes from synthetic wastewater by sunflower husk was studied in batch and dynamics removal. The extent of adsorption was studied in batch as a function of burning temperature, chemical treatment, adsorbents size, pH and solution temperature. Methylene blue and Mexican red in aqueous solution was used as synthetic wastewater. Dynamic removal of methylene blue and Mexican red by sunflower husk was also studied in packed bed column. In batch, both dyes were removed with the maximum adsorption by unburned adsorbents. Removal of methylene blue was increased when the adsorbents treated with NaOH whereas treated with HCl for Mexican red. The optimum pH for removal of methylene blue solution was between 4 and 10 and the maximum value for Mexican red was pH 2. The adsorption of methylene blue and Mexican red follows Langmuir adsorption model. In packed bed column, values of column parameter were investigated as a function of flow rate and bed height. Dynamic of adsorption process was modeled by bed depth service time (BDST) and the experimental data were fitted very well to the BDST model © (2011) Trans Tech Publications.