Fabrication Of Multi-Functional Magnetic Adsorbent For Removal Of Dyes From Aqueous Solution

• Main Author: Kam, Yat Seng
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English; English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2013
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/37087/1/Kam%20Yat%20Seng%20%2824pgs%29.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/37087/4/Kam%20Yat%20Seng%20%28fulltext%29.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/37087/

Presence of dyes in wastewater effluent even at a very low concentration generally will reduce sunlight penetration which in turn affects photosynthesis process and marine life. In this study, adsorption of dyes mainly congo red, methyl violet, and methylene blue onto calcium alginate encapsulated zirconium based iron oxide particles which are a type of multi-functional magnetic adsorbent is studied. The percentage of the dyes removal by using the adsorbent is found to be in the range of 40 - 80 % by mass. The adsorbent with magnetic properties eases the separation of the adsorbent from its aqueous solution after the adsorption process which makes the adsorbent more sustainable in usage compared to other adsorbents. The characteristics of the adsorbent are determined via instrumental analyses such as particle size analyzer, thermal gravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier Transfonn Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, etc. The TG-DTA shows that the adsorbent has good thermal stability with thennal degradation residue of 72 wt. % under 800 °C operating temperature. The adsorbent has approximately 1150 µm in mean diameter and it is characterized as bead form particle. SEM is applied to identify surface morphology of the adsorbent. Based on the analysis, it is observed that some of the pores of adsorbed adsorbent are clogged after adsorption. This implies that adsorption does occur between the dyes and the adsorbent which is in-line with the result from the FT-IR analysis.