Experimental Studies on the Removal of Textile Dyes from Artificially Contaminated Water Using Sorbent Synthesized from Paper Waste

Abstract

Nowadays, organic dyes widely used in various industries such as textile, paper dyeing, plastics or cosmetic have posed a serious threat to the water resources. Most of textile dyes with nonbiodegradable, toxic and carcinogenic features could cause adverse effects for ecosystems and human health. A little studied sorbent - aerogel - a substance with a low density in the solid state was used in experiments. This material is lightweight and has a large surface area. Aerogels obtained not from petroleum but from cellulose, chitosan, lignin or pectin have good sorption properties for removing organic pollutants from wastewater. The aim of this study was to determine the adsorption efficiency of the removal of naphthol green B from artificially contaminated water using sorbent synthesized from paper waste. Cellulose aerogel, which was prepared from office paper and cardboard waste, was used in experimental research. Adsorption capacity values ranged from 0.12 mg/g to 0.83 mg/g. It can be stated that the change in the pH of the solution after the sorption process did not affect the sorption result and optical density of investigated solution. The surface area of aerogel changed after sorption process: the gaps between the fibers have decreased, the surface of aerogel became smoother.