Zirconium phospho silicate doped cross-linked PVA-PSSA membrane for the adsorptive removal of methylene blue, Rhodamine B and malachite green dyes from aqueous solutions

Abstract

Zirconium phosphosilicate doped Cross-linked Poly vinyl alcohol -Poly styrene sulphonic acid polymer membrane was successfully fabricated by solution casting method and exhibited excellent dye adsorption capacity towards Methylene blue, Malachite green, and Rhodamine B dyes from aqueous solutions. The amount of dye adsorbed onto the membrane was measured spectrophotometrically and the influence of operating parameters such as contact time, pH, temperature and initial concentration on adsorption performance were investigated. The percentage of dye removal by using PVA-PSSA-ZPS membrane was in the order of Malachite green> Methylene blue> Rhodamine B. The cross- linked PVA-PSSA-ZPS membrane were characterized using XRD, TGA-DSC, FTIR, SEM and UV-Visible spectrophotometer and investigated in relation to ion exchange capacity and water swelling properties. Desorption of Malachite green adsorbed membrane was easily achieved using the eluent such as mixture of 5mL 1M solutions of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and ammonium nitrate.