The use of aminated cotton fibers as an unconventional sorbent to remove anionic dyes from aqueous solutions

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the sorption of anionic dyes (Reactive Black 5, Reactive Yellow 84, Acid Red 18, and Acid Yellow 23) by cotton fibers aminated with epichlorohydrin and ammonia water (ACFs) as well by unmodified cotton fibers (CFs). CFs and ACFs were characterized based on FTIR, elemental analysis (C/N content) and pHPZC. The effect of solution pH (pH 2–11) and contact time on the removal of dye was studied as well. The kinetic experimental data were fitted to pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, and intraparticle diffusion model. Equilibrium isotherms were analyzed based on Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The efficiency of dye sorption on CFs was the most effective at pH 2, whereas on ACFs—at pH 3–4. ACFs and CFs changed the pH value of the sorption solution. The system tended to obtain a pH value close to the pHPZC value of the sorbent (pHPZC = 7.85 for CFs/pHPZC = 8.15 for ACFs). ACFs had a shorter dye sorption equilibrium time compared to the CFs. The sorption of dyes on cotton sorbents proceeded in 2 main phases. The best match to the experimental data was shown by the pseudo-secondary model. Having amine functional groups, the ACFs ensured far better sorption of anionic dyes than CFs did. The maximum Reactive Black 5 sorption capacity of ACFs was Qmax = 36.77 mg/g, which was 1240% higher than that of CFs (Qmax = 2.74 mg/g).