Synthesis of Adsorbent Clay for Removal of Dyes from Wastewater

Organic dye contaminants are often found in industrial wastewater. The presence of organic dyes in wastewater contributes to serious health and safety risks in the environment. Furthermore, these substances are typically recalcitrant and difficult to remove by conventional means. A clay-based adsorbent was synthesized, and its adsorption capacity was tested using methyl orange and methyl purple. Adsorption process is a very effective separation technique due to its successful removal of substances, simplicity, and overall low cost. The adsorbent will be characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and elemental composition analysis by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. The absorption capacity of the organic clay is characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy. The experiment was conducted in a batch manner through a designed filter apparatus. Methyl orange and purple mixed with water were passed through a vessel containing the clay-based adsorbent, via a pneumatic pump. The expected results include adsorption rate per area per amount of adsorbent in addition to the synthetic clay characterization.