Use of Adsorptive Systems for Water Treatment With the Presence of Azo Dyes

Objective: This study evaluated the adsorption capacity of activated carbon in relation to multicomponent solutions containing the azo dyes Blue Remazol, Yellow Remazol, and Red Remazol. These dyes were selected due to their extensive use across a wide range of industrial activities, including textiles, paper, plastics, and cosmetics. Theoretical Framework: Classical adsorption theory was applied, and mathematical studies were proposed and conducted based on the Langmuir, Freundlich, Langmuir-Freundlich, and Redlich-Peterson models, as well as knowledge of the chemical and molecular structure of the adsorbent and adsorbate for individual dyes and multicomponent mixtures. Method: The study involved varying parameters typically found in adsorption beds, such as adsorbent particle diameter, dye concentration, solution pH, bed temperature, and adsorbent mass to solution volume ratio to identify the point of maximum removal efficiency. Results and Discussion: The maximum removal efficiency of 89% was achieved under the conditions of particle diameter (dp) = 0.30 mm, initial dye concentration (C0) = 40 mg.L⁻¹, adsorbent mass (m) = 2.0 g.L⁻¹, pH = 6.0, and temperature (T) = 30°C. Research Implications: This study, with appropriate scaling measures, can be adapted for industrial processes aiming to reduce environmental impact. Originality/Value: The use of adsorption systems for treating industrial waste from the textile industry is still underexplored, and this work aims to address this gap.