Rice Straw and Rice Straw Ash for the Removal of Brilliant Green Dye from Wastewater

Aims: The use of economical, simply obtained and green adsorbents has been employed as a perfect alternative to the expensive methods of removing dyes from aqueous solution. The capability of rice straw and rice straw ash to remove brilliant green dye by the adsorption process has been studied.

Study Design: Adsorption studies were carried out at different initial dye concentrations, contact time and adsorbent dosages.

Place and Duration of Study: Regional center for food and feed, Agricultural research center.

Methodology: Adsorption data were modeled using Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin adsorption isotherms.

Results: Freundlich model showed the best fit with the equilibrium data for rice straw; however Langmuir model was better fitted for rice straw ash. Kinetic adsorption records were modeled using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order. It was found that pseudo-second-order was best fit with the equilibrium data. Rice straw and rice straw ash were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Conclusion: Rice straw as an agriculture waste by-product could be used as an alternative to commercial activated carbon as adsorbent due to its availability, removal efficiency and low cost.