BIOSORPTION OF DYES IN A SYNTHETIC EFFLUENT BY UNMODIFIED AND MODIFIED FUCUS VESICULOSUS

Abstract

Textile industries consume large amounts of water, chemicals and dyes. Therefore, a significant wastewater amount containing these compounds is generated. In this study, the treatment of a synthetic textile wastewater by a species of brown macro algae (Fucus vesiculosus), in addition to the modification process effect on the removal efficiency was carried out. Infrared spectra demonstrated several functional groups on the biosorbent surface linked to the presence of lipids and proteins. The energy dispersive x-ray spectra confirmed the surface modification by sodium hydroxide. Among the dyes present in the wastewater, Rhodamine B was the one with the highest removal efficiency. The modification step was considered advantageous, since the NaOH-modified Fucus vesiculosus showed a 14% increase in Rhodamine B removal efficiency.