Removal of Disperse Dyes from Aqueous Solution Using Sawdust and BDTDA‐Sawdust

The adsorption of two disperse dyes, disperse blue 56 and disperse red from aqueous solution onto sawdust (SD) and benzyldimethyltetradecyl ammonium (BDTDA) treated sawdust has been studied. The effect of initial concentration of dyes, pH, and contact time has been studied. The pH had a considerable influence on adsorption and optimum pH for adsorption of disperse dyes is found to be in the range of 2–3. The experimental data were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm equations. The experimental data were fitted well to pseudo first order kinetic model with R²>0.99. The results indicate that sawdust modified with surfactant can be employed as a low cost alternative to commercial activated carbon for the removal of disperse dyes.

Keywords:

• Adsorption
• sawdust
• BDTDA treated sawdust
• disperse dyes
• Langmuir equation
• Freundlich equation