Comparative Decolouration of Crystal Violet Dye using ChickenFeather Fibre, Chemical Oxidation and Bacterial Cells

Background and Objective: Due to the substantial contribution of feather waste to the total solid waste between efforts aimed atcountering the attendant environmental impact of waste feathers are urgently required. This investigation was aimed at comparingselected chemical, physical and biological methods in the decolouration of crystal violet dye from wastewater. Materials and Methods:The study, which was carried out under batch experimental conditions, made use of Hydrogen Peroxide (HP), Fenton (FT), Raw ChickenFeather fibre (RCF), Carbonated Chicken Fibre (CCF) and two bacterial species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis). Theparameters studied were the effect of feather quantity/chemical quantity/inoculum size, pH and initial crystal concentration. Results:Data obtained from this study showed that after 144 h of treatment, 92% decoloration of the crystal violet dye was achieved using theRCF as biosorbent compared to 63 and 10% decolouration using Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells, respectively and93 and 100% decolouration using HP and FT, respectively. The lowest quantity (2 g) of the RCF was observed the most effective while B. subtilis was best at 2 mL inoculum size. The HP and FT were effective over the various concentration tested. Maximum decolourationwas achieved at pH 4, 6 and 12 with the RCF, pH 6 with the bacterial cells and over pH ranges between 2 and 12 with HP and FT.Conclusion: Based on these results, the RCF was observed to compare favourably with HP and FT and better than the bacterial cells incrystal violet decolouration. Considering the environmental side effects of HP and FT as decolourants, the RCF could offer a betteralternative as biological biosorbent. Application of the findings of this study could enhance further scale up studies for more efficienttreatment of dye effluents