Adsorption of acid dyes using polyelectrolyte impregnated mesoporous silica

Cationic polyelectrolyte, PDDA (Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)), was impregnated on mesoporous silica SBA-15 (PDDA/SBA-15) and amorphous conventional silica (PDDA/CS) supports. Acid dye adsorption characteristics, such as adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherms, maximum adsorption capacity, and breakthrough curves of the prepared PDDA/SBA-15 and PDDA/CS adsorbents, were examined by batch and column adsorption techniques where the Acid Violet 17, Acid Red 44, and Acid Blue 45 were used as target adsorbates. PDDA/SBA-15 adsorbent showed fast adsorption kinetics of less than 10 min and much higher adsorption capacities compared to PDDA/CS due to large pore sizes, ordered cylindrical pore structures, and high amount of impregnated PDDA. Results from batch and column experiments showed that practical use of PDDA/SBA-15 adsorbent for effective removal of acid dyes from aqueous solution would be possible. Polyelectrolyte impregnation method was suggested as a simple method for the development of adsorbent with large pore diameters and efficient adsorption characteristics.