Adsorption of Synthetic Orange Dye Wastewater in Organoclay

The aim of this study is to evaluate adsorption kinetics and isotherms of synthetic orange dye onto organoclay prepared from commercial sodium bentonite (Fluidgel called) from aqueous solutions. The effects of pH, contact time, initial dye concentrations, dosage clay and temperature were investigated experimentally. Commercial sodium bentonite was modified by using quaternary ammonium cations (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide) as a modifying agent. The characterization of commercial Fluidgel and modified clay (organophifilic Fluidgel) was accomplished by using XRD, TGA, BET and SEM/EDX techniques. The optimum pH value for the adsorption experiments was found to be next of 6 (pH not adjusted) and all the experiments were carried out at this pH value. The pseudo-first-order kinetic model agrees very well with the experimental results. Equilibrium data were also fitted to the Freundlich isotherm model in the studied temperature range for low initial concentrations of synthetic orange. The results indicate that organoclay is a suitable adsorbent for the adsorption of dyes.