Removal of the phthalocyanine dye from acidic solutions using resins with the polystyrene divinylbenzene matrix

Two resins of polystyrene divinylbenzene matrix: the macroporous strong base Purolite A 500PS anion exchanger and hypercrosslinked non-functionalized Macronet MN 200 were proofed as suitable adsorbents for the removal of hazardous copper phthalocyanine dye – Acid Blue 249 (CuPc). The sorption isotherms and kinetics of CuPc in acidic aqueous solutions were investigated using batch experiments. The resins surface texture was evaluated using a scanning electron microscope. The FTIR study of unloaded and CuPc dye loaded resins identified the functional groups of resins and dye anion and the specific sorption mechanisms: ion exchange in participation of the protonated quarternary amino groups of Purolite A 500P and the electrostatic interaction in participation of the fenolic groups of Macronet MN 200. The kinetic data were correlated with intraparticle diffusion and the pseudo-second order kinetic equations. The activation energies such as intraparticle diffusion (Ea–ki) and chemical sorption (Ea–k2) were calculated using the Arrhenius relationship. The CuPc dye sorption on Purolite A 500PS is limited by the intraparticle diffusion, whereas sorption on Macronet MN 200 is limited by the intraparticle diffusion depending on pore size distribution and on the boundary layer thickness.Purolite A 500PS is substantially more effective for the sorption of CuPc dye than Macronet MN 200. The amount of CuPc dye sorbed at equilibrium on Purolite A 500PS and on Macronet MN 200 was 86.9 μmol/g and 2.3 μmol/g, respectively.