Title: Nitrilotriacetic acid modified sugarcane bagasse in the removal of basic blue 3 from aqueous environment

Authors: Siew-Teng Ong; Sie-Tiong Ha; Eng-Cheong Khoo; Siew-Ling Hii

Addresses: Faculty of Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, 31900 Kampar, Perak, Malaysia ' Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, 31900 Kampar, Perak, Malaysia ' Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Genting Kelang, Setapak 53300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ' Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Genting Kelang, Setapak 53300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract: Nitrilotriacetic acid modification on sugarcane bagasse was performed to evaluate its potential in the removal of basic blue 3 (BB3) from synthetic solution. To the best our knowledge, this is the first time the present modification was reported. A comparative study in the removal capacities of natural sugarcane bagasse (NSB) and nitrilotriacetic acid modified sugarcane bagasse (NTA-SB) indicated that NTA-SB shows an enhancement in BB3 sorption. The sorption characteristics of BB3 by NTA-SB were studied under various experimental conditions such as pH, contact time, initial concentration, sorption isotherm and agitation rate. The optimum pH for the removal of BB3 was recorded in the range of 5 to 9 and the sorption process correlated well with pseudo-second order kinetic model. Experimental data obtained were fitted into both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model and the maximum sorption capacity of NTA-SB calculated based on Langmuir model was 54.35 mg/g.

Keywords: sorption; sugarcane bagasse; nitrilotriacetic acid; NTA: basic dyes; basic blue 3; BB3; dye removal; kinetic modelling; water pollution; textile wastewaters; wastewater treatment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2013.054704

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2013 Vol.5 No.3, pp.299 - 310

Received: 12 Jan 2009
Accepted: 09 Jul 2009
Published online: 07 Nov 2013 *

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