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Effective Dye Removal from Waste Water Using a Novel Low-Cost NaOH-Modified Fly Ash

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Clays and Clay Minerals

Abstract

Dyes are toxic and considered to be extremely hazardous to natural environments. Hence, adsorbents to remove dyes from contaminated water are needed. To develop adsorbents with a high adsorption capacity for different dyes, easy separation, and low cost, a novel dye adsorbent was prepared by activating fly ash with NaOH. The adsorbent morphology, structure, and specific surface area were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and surface area measurements using N2 adsorption-desorption. The adsorption abilities of the synthesized adsorbents were examined based on methylene blue and acid fuchsin adsorption from water. The capabilities of the adsorbents as a function of adsorbent use, dye type, dye concentration, time, and pH were investigated and compared. The results for methylene blue and acid fuchsin adsorption were modeled using pseudo-second order kinetics and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, respectively. These modified adsorbents synthesized from fly ash may provide a promising solution to purify dye-contaminated waste water with the advantages of high efficiency and low cost.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Engineering, Yan’an University, Yan’an, Shaanxi, 716000, China

    Xiaoming Gao, Yuan Dai, Yu Zhang, Xiang Zhai & Feng Fu

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  1. Xiaoming Gao
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  2. Yuan Dai
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  3. Yu Zhang
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  4. Xiang Zhai
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  5. Feng Fu
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Correspondence to Xiaoming Gao.

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Gao, X., Dai, Y., Zhang, Y. et al. Effective Dye Removal from Waste Water Using a Novel Low-Cost NaOH-Modified Fly Ash. Clays Clay Miner. 64, 695–705 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.2016.064028

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.2016.064028

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