Utilization of cationic polymer-modified fly ash for dye wastewater treatment

Abstract

Reuse of modified fly ash for treatment of dye wastewaters is a promising new technology with the potential to mitigate two waste streams currently having negative effects on the environment. In the present study, cationic fly ash adsorbent was prepared by immobilizing with poly-epichlorohydrin-dimethylamine for treating reactive dye wastewaters. Characterization analyses confirmed that poly-epichlorohydrin-dimethylamine had been immobilized onto fly ash, and this immobilization could change the Zeta potential of fly ash from negative to positive throughout the range of pH from 3 to 11, but could not alter its crystal structure. Static adsorption analyses demonstrated that dye adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic, and the experimental data were better in accord with pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Column experiments showed that cationic fly ash displayed a dramatically high dye adsorption capacity, which was over 1.5 times more than that of commercial activated carbon. Reusability study confirmed that synthesized cationic fly ash can be used repeatedly in column. Especially, in order to avoid secondary pollution, the generated disabled cationic fly ash adsorbent can be reused to produce polymer concretes as a functional filler. The present work can provide new insight into the utilization of modified fly ash for treating wastewaters.