Anion Exchange Resins of Tri-n-butyl Ammonium Functional Groups for Dye Baths and Textile Wastewater Treatment

ABSTRACT

Effectiveness of two strongly basic anion exchange resins of the gel (Dowex PSR-2) and macroporous structure (Dowex PSR-3) was compared in order to remove three hazardous dyes such as C.I. Acid Orange 7 (AO7), C.I. Reactive Black 5 (RB5), and C.I. Direct Blue 71 (DB71) contained in water and textile wastewaters. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to analyze the effect of phase contact time, initial dye concentration, and the presence of auxiliary materials (anionic and cationic surfactants, Na₂CO₃, and Na₂SO₄). The Langmuir model better described the adsorption process of the dyes onto both resins than the Freundlich model. The monolayer adsorption capacities (q_e) of Dowex PSR-3 were calculated as 336.4 mg/g for AO7, 317.9 mg/g for RB5, and 150.4 mg/g for DB71 at 25^°C. Dowex PSR-2 of the gel structure is characterized by considerably lower values of q_e (50.1 mg/g for AO7, 17.2 mg/g for RB5, and 9.7 mg/g for DB71). Of special importance are high values of the working ion exchange capacities of Dowex PSR-3 determined from the breakthrough curves towards AO7 and RB5 equal to 127 and 85 mg/cm³, respectively. The pseudo second-order kinetic model described the experimental sorption data better than the pseudo first-order model. Methanol addition to the 1 M HCl and 1 M NaOH solutions improved the effectiveness of dye desorption.

KEYWORDS:

• Anion exchangers
• dyes removal
• acid dye
• reactive dye
• direct dye

Acknowledgment

The author is grateful to mgr inż. Lucyna Bilińska and mgr inż. Kamil Biliński from “Biliński” Factory of Colour (Mickiewicza 29 Str., 95-050 Konstantynów Łódzki, Poland) for the samples of dyes, dyeing baths, and wastewater.