Kinetic extraction of basic dye using vegetable oil as a solvent

Abstract

Vegetable oil such as palm oil and corn oil are more environmentally friendly and economic compared to petroleum based solvent. In this study, liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) of basic dye methylene blue (MB) from simulated textile wastewater using di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) in vegetable oil was investigated. The parameter of extraction studied included types of solvent, D2EHPA concentration, types and concentrations of stripping agent and initial pH of aqueous waste solution. D2EHPA concentration was varied in the range of 0.005 - 0.50M. The results showed that palm oil provided good potential as a solvent in the MB extraction. Almost 100% of MB was extracted at 0.1M D2EHPA in palm oil with distribution ratio of 38 which is reasonably high. The extracted MB in loaded organic phase are capable to re-extracted back for dye recovery using 0.6M of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) as a stripping solution.