REMOVAL OF DYES FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING VARIOUS AGRICULTURAL WASTES AS BIOSORBENT

摘要

Low cost and locally available two renewable biosor-bents (cotton stalk and apricot seed) were investigated to remove Astrazone Blue and Astrazone Red from aqueous solution. The effects of various experimental parameters such as dye concentration, adsorbent amount, adsorbent particle size and initial pH were tested and optimal experimental conditions were examined. The results showed that as the amount of adsorbent was increased, the percentage of dye removal increased accordingly. The ratios of dye sorbed increased as the adsorbent particle size decreased. The dye removal efficiency of two agricultural waste was in the order cotton stalk > apricot seed. In addition, the antibacterial effect of untreated and treated dyes on a soil bacterium, P. aeruginosa was determined. The adsorption of these dyes with agricultural wastes reduced the toxic effect on P. aeruginosa. This reduction in toxic effect is important both in respect of environmental biotechnology and waste detoxification. The results in this study indicated that cotton stalk and apricot seed can be employed as low-cost and attractive alternatives in wastewater treatment for the removal of dyes.