Removal of acid yellow 17 dye from aqueous solutions using activated water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Abstract

Dye-containing wastewater has been known as a serious environmental treat. There are many treatment methods, but they are not practical in many developing countries. In this study, batch adsorption of acid yellow 17 dye from aqueous solution has been carried out on a laboratory scale using activated water hyacinth root powder. The dye removal efficiency was measured using a UV-Vis spectrometer. Adsorption experiments were carried out in a batch process at different operating parameters including initial dye concentration, adsorbent dose, contact time, and solution pH. From the experimental data, the maximum dye removal efficiency achieved was 92.26% at pH 2, initial dye concentration 50 mg/L, contact time 120 min, and adsorbent dose 20 g/L. Experimental studies indicated pseudo-second-order kinetic (R2 ¼ 1) and Langmuir isotherm (R2 ¼ 0.953) models could better describe acid yellow 17 dye adsorption on the activated water hyacinth. Adsorption experiments revealed that activated water hyacinth prepared from locally available infesting water bodies had a high potential for removing acid yellow 17 dye from aqueous solution.