Enhancing cationic dye removal via biocomposite formation between chitosan and food grade algae: Optimization of algae loading and adsorption parameters

• Published in: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
• Main Authors: Agha, Hasan M.; Abdulhameed, Ahmed Saud; Jawad, Ali H.; Aazmi, Shafiq; Sidik, Norrizah Jaafar; De Luna, Yannis; Wilson, Lee D.; ALOthman, Zeid A.; Algburi, Sameer
• Format: Article; Early Access
• Language: English
• Published: ELSEVIER 2024
• Subjects: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Chemistry; Polymer Science
• Online Access: https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001147405700001

Herein, a natural material including chitosan (CTS) and algae (food-grade algae, FGA) was exploited to attain a bio-adsorbent (CTS/FGA) for enhanced methyl violet 2B dye removal. A study of the FGA loading into CTS matrix showed that the best mixing ratio between CTS and FGA to be used for the MV 2B removal was 50 %:50 % (CTS/FGA; 50:50 w/w). The present study employed the Box-Behnken design (RSM-BBD) to investigate the impact of three processing factors, namely CTS/FGA-(50:50) dose (0.02-0.1 g/100 mL), pH of solution (4-10), and contact time (5-15 min) on the decolorization rate of MV 2B dye. The results obtained from the equilibrium and kinetic experiments indicate that the adsorption of MV 2B dye on CTS/FGA-(50:50) follows the Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models, respectively. The CTS/FGA exhibits an adsorption capacity of 179.8 mg/g. The characterization of CTS/FGA-(50:50) involves the proposed mechanism of MV 2B adsorption, which primarily encompasses various interactions such as electrostatic forces, n-pi stacking, and H-bonding. The present study demonstrates that CTS/FGA-(50:50) synthesized material exhibits a distinctive structure and excellent adsorption properties, thereby providing a viable option for the elimination of toxic cationic dyes from polluted water.