Effect of Electrolyte on Adsorption of Dye at Clay – water Interface

Abstract

Presence of color impurity as an effluent poses a significant risk to the environment and human health. Industrial effluents mostly go untreated into the water streams and render it unfit for the use. Existing methods for effluent treatment such as charcoal adsorption are less effective, costly and less ecological friendly in nature. In the present work, kaolinite has been used as an adsorbent, with different electrolytes (Na2SO4, NaCl, and CaCl2) as adsorption enhancers. Kaolinite clay is easily available and also eco-friendly in nature, with a good adsorption property. Different batches of methylene blue and kaolinite clay has been studied and further adsorption enhancement of adsorption by the salts has been carried out. Addition of salt such as Na2SO4 led to a 100% increment in the adsorption capacity of the clay.