Removal of Solophenyl Red 3BL Dye from Textile Effluents by Adsorption Using a Natural Adsorbent Oxalis pes-caprae L.

A. Ben Bouabdallah, F. Mazari and R. Sifi

Abstract
The aim of the present study was to assess the adsorption potential of a natural adsorbent Oxalis pes-caprae L. for the removal of azo-dye solophenyl red 3BL (SR 3BL) from textile effluents. The adsorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of various parameters on the efficiency of the adsorption was studied. The optimum was found with the contact time of 35 minutes, pH of 6, and temperature of 25 °C. The equilibrium experimental data were fitted with the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models. Experimental data were well described with the Langmuir isotherm indicating monolayer adsorption. Pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich kinetic models were used to evaluate the adsorption kinetics. The adsorption kinetics was found to follow closely the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Thermodynamics studies revealed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic.

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Keywords
solophenyl red 3BL, natural adsorbent, Oxalis pes-caprae, adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherms, textile effluents