A pilot plant study of the degradation of Brilliant Green dye using ozone microbubbles: mechanism and kinetics of reaction

Abstract

Oxidation of Brilliant Green dye was performed using ozone microbubbles in a pilot plant scale. Decolourisation was very effective at both acidic and alkaline pH. The colour of the aqueous solution was below detectable limit after 30 min at 1.7 mg/s ozone generation rate. The reaction between the dye and ozone was first-order in nature with respect to both ozone and the dye. The enhancement factor increased with increasing dye concentration. The samples were analysed by the ultra-violet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrophotometry, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy. From the GC–MS analysis, 13 intermediates were detected as oxidation products of this dye at various stages of oxidation. The changes in the FTIR spectra showed the destruction of the dye and the formation of new compounds. The oxidation mechanism was divided into two reaction pathways. The mineralisation of Brilliant Green was up to 80% in 60 min, as determined by total organic carbon analysis.

Keywords:

• Brilliant Green
• kinetics
• microbubble
• ozone
• pilot plant study

Acknowledgements

We thank the Department of Science and Technology (Water Technology Initiative), Government of India for the financial support of this work through the grant number: DST/TM/ WTI/2k10/266/(G), dated 5 September 2011.