Removal of Basic Violet from Wool Dyeing Effluent Using Nanoparticles

In the reported study, nano silica and nano clay were used to remove the residual color from effluent generated during the dyeing of wool fabric with basic violet. Various concentrations (0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.0%) of the nanoparticles were treated with dye effluent for different durations and the results are compared with the color removal of commercial activated carbon. The nanoparticles were characterized for their physical properties including particle size, FTIR, and TEM. Freundlich isotherm was used for the dye adsorption studies. The FTIR and TEM analysis depicted the characteristic peaks and crystal geometry for the selected nanoparticles. The treated effluent showed a significant reduction in color, biological, and chemical oxygen demand (more than 99%). The treatment was optimized for 1.0% adsorbent concentration for 60 minutes. The color removal efficiency of nano silica was found to be higher at low concentration; however, the efficiency of nano clay exceeded at a higher concentration of adsorbents.