Cloud point extraction of direct yellow

The cloud point separation of Direct Yellow from micellar solution of various nonionic surfactants, containing a polyoxyethylene chain, was studied. The separation of dyes is an important environmental problem. Moreover, such separation can also be considered as a preliminary step for further studies of biochemical recovery. Some dyes can be considered as affinity ligands, which form complexes with biochemicals. The use of dye enabled the observation of the dynamics of surfactant-rich phase separation by means of a color video. It was found that the separation of phases was incomplete. The aqueous phase contained some amounts of surfactant globules with the dye. The surfactant-rich phase was usually more heterogenic than the aqueous phase. The recovery of Direct Yellow was very effective in the presence of electrolyte (NaCl). The distribution coefficients were high and equal to a few hundreds in the presence of sodium chloride. Under optimum conditions 98-99.9% of the dye could be removed in the one step.