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Adsorption of Cationic Dyes from Aqueous Solution by Termite Feces, a Non‐Conventional Adsorbent
Author(s) -
Debrassi Aline,
Rodrigues Clóvis Antonio
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
clean – soil, air, water
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1863-0669
pISSN - 1863-0650
DOI - 10.1002/clen.201000335
Subject(s) - adsorption , freundlich equation , crystal violet , endothermic process , malachite green , cationic polymerization , aqueous solution , chemistry , point of zero charge , langmuir , titration , nuclear chemistry , chromatography , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
The adsorption of three cationic dyes (rhodamine B, RB; crystal violet, CV; and malachite green, MG) onto termite feces, a low‐cost adsorbent, was investigated. The adsorbent was characterized by IR spectroscopy, point of zero charge measurement, and the Boehm titration method. The adsorption follows the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model and the Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm with maximum adsorption capacities of 95.53 mg g −1 (RB), 75.71 mg g −1 (CV), and 44.78 mg g −1 (MG). The study of thermodynamics showed that the adsorption is a spontaneous and endothermic process. This works suggest that termite feces can be used as a new low‐cost adsorbent for cationic dye removal.