Removal of Reactive Dyes From Aqueous Solution by Adsorption onto Alfa Fibers powder

The absorbent Alfa fibers powder was used for its low cost, available and natural for removal of reactive textile dyes (reactive red 23 (RR-23) and reactive blue 19 (RB-19)) from aqueous solution. The absorbent Alfa fibers powder was obtained from leaf of Stippa Tenacissima L crushed and screened with a particle size less than < 2mm. Batch experiments were carried out for sorption kinetics and isotherms. Operating variables studied were pH, treatment time, temperature, dye and adsorbent concentrations. The adsorption parameters were determined based on Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. These parameters were obtained from the equilibrium adsorption data for the two reactive dyes. While the kinetics and thermodynamic parameters were used to establish the adsorption mechanism. As an adsorbent, Alfa fibers powder have a preference for Reactive Red 23, retaining up to 34.13 mg/g at 22°C, whereas a retention of only 11.33 mg/g at 22°C has been achieved by Reactive blue 19. Besides that, the thermodynamic study showed that the dye adsorption onto absorbent Alfa fibers powder was favourable, endothermic and spontaneous