Full factorial experimental design analysis of Rhodamine B removal from water using organozeolite from coal bottom ash

Abstract

Zeolitic material synthesized using coal bottom ash as raw material was modified by cationic surfactant. Raw bottom ash and zeolitic materials were characterized using various techniques to obtain its physical and chemical properties. Surfactant modified zeolite (SMZBA) was used as alternative low-cost adsorbent for removal of Rhodamine B (RB) dye from aqueous solution. Dye adsorption equilibrium was attained after 40 min of the contact time and adsorption kinetics were described by the pseudo second order kinetic model. Equilibrium adsorption data were adjusted using non-linear equations of the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) models. Error analysis showed that D-R was the most appropriate for fitting the experimental data. The reuse of the remaining solution generated from the synthesis of zeolite was effective. To optimize the operating conditions, the temperature, pH, adsorbent dosage and initial concentration of the dye were investigated by full factorial experimental design method; adsorbent dosage, initial concentration and interaction of the two were found as the most significant factors with P = 0.02 lower than 95% confidence level. The results showed that SMZBA is a good adsorbent for the removal of RB from aqueous effluent.