Removal of azo dye from aqueous solution using an anionic polymeric urethane absorbent (APUA)

This paper is a report on an original research which investigated the effect of a number of experimental parameters on the removal of Food Red 17 (FR17) from an aqueous solution using anionic polymeric urethane absorbent (APUA) as an adsorbent. The optimum value of adsorbent dose was found to be 35 mg L-1. Further, maximum dye removal took place at pH 3 and 45 degrees C. The fourth parameter, stirring the solution during the treatment, also resulted in significant removal improvement. The amount of FR17 adsorbed on APUA surface was quantified using the Langmuir equation. UV irradiation was also found to have a positive effect on the removal process. The efficiency of the treatment was verified using FT-IR spectrometry results for APUA, FR17, and APUA-FR17. Finally, the adsorbent was subjected to SEM characterization. (C) 2014 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.