ADSORPTION PROCESS OF CYAN PRINTING DYE ONTO ACTIVATED CARBON: OPTIMIZATION AND KINETIC STUDIES

The potential use of commercial activated carbon for the removal of water-based phthalocyanine printing dye (Cyan) form aqueous solution was investigated. Screening and optimization of four variables (initial dye concentrations, adsorbent mass, pH of the aqueous solution and reaction time) influencing the adsorption process are performed using a new design of experiments methodology, the definitive screening design (DSD). Maximum removal efficiency of 88.5% for Cyan dye was achieved under following conditions: 32.8 mgL-1 of the initial dye concentration, 0.09 g of the adsorbent mass, pH 6 and 20 minutes of the reaction time. The kinetic adsorption modelling followed the Elovich model, indicating monolayer chemisorption process on a heterogeneous adsorbent surface, with possible van der Waals interactions, hydrogen and halogen bonding, as an integral part of adsorption mechanisms of printing dye on activated carbon.