Removal of dyes by adsorption on magnetically modified activated sludge

The ability of magnetically modified activated sludge affected by thermal treatment to remove water-soluble organic dyes was examined. Twelve different dyes were tested. Based on the results of the initial sorption study, four dyes (namely aniline blue, Nile blue, Bismarck brown Y and safranin O) were chosen for further experiments due to their promising binding onto magnetic activated sludge. Significant factors influencing adsorption efficiency such as dependence of contact time, initial pH or temperature were studied in detail. The adsorption process was very fast; more than 88 % of dye content (55 mg/L) was adsorbed within 15 min under experimental conditions used. The equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed by Freundlich, Langmuir and Sips adsorption isotherm models, and the fitting of each isotherm model to experimental data was assessed on the basis of error functions. The maximum adsorption capacities of magnetic activated sludge were 768.2, 246.9, 515.1 and 326.8 mg/g for aniline blue, Bismarck brown Y, Nile blue and safranin O, respectively. The kinetic studies indicated that adsorption of all selected dyes could be well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the thermodynamic data suggested the spontaneous and endothermic process.