Anionic Dye Removal by Polypyrrole-Modified Red Mud and Its Application to a Lab-Scale Column: Adsorption Performance and Phytotoxicity Assessment

Abstract

In this study, polypyrrole-modified red mud (PRM) was prepared for the efficient removal of anionic dyes (methyl orange and Congo red) from aqueous solutions. The phytotoxicity (bean sprouts) of the dye solution before and after dye removal was investigated. Adsorption kinetics confirmed that the adsorption of methyl orange (MO) and Congo red (CR) on PRM was controlled by chemical reactions between the functional groups of polypyrrole and dyes. From Langmuir isotherm fitting, we found the theoretical adsorption capacities of MO and CR on PRM were 194.1 and 314.9 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption progress of MO and CR on PRM was found to be spontaneous and endothermic. The column studies demonstrated that, under dynamic flow, the PRM can efficiently remove MO and CR from aqueous solution, with adsorption capacities of 31.08 and 55.04 mg/g, respectively. In the toxicity test, the phytotoxicity of the column effluents (after dye removal) was significantly lowered compared to the initial dye influents. After the removal of MO and CR, the average root length of bean sprouts was increased from 3.30 cm to 5.18 cm and from 3.01 cm to 7.00 cm, respectively. These findings highlighted the efficient removal of dyes by PRM from aqueous solution, demonstrating the possible application of PRM for the removal of dye from dye-contaminated wastewaters.