Removal of Congo Red Dye using Synthesised Copper(II) Activated Carbon from Date Seeds

Abstract

Azo dyes are recognised as contaminants from the textile and printing industries that lead to human toxicity. Copper(II) activated carbon (CuAC) is an effective removal agent of dyes in these industries. The purpose of this study is to synthesise and characterise CuAC from date seeds. In addition, the efficiency of CuAC as a removal of Congo red (CR) in aqueous solution is also studied. Activated carbon (AC) was prepared from date seeds using phosphoric acid as activating agent, followed by activation process in a furnace at 500 ℃ for 2 hours. Copper(II) nitrate was used in the impregnation of AC to produce CuAC. The AC and CuAC were characterised using Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), BET surface area (SBET), Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). UV-VIS Spectroscopy was used to determine dye concentrations after treatment with removal agent of CuAC. The characterisation data proved that the CuAC has been successfully synthesised with 0.33% Cu(II) loaded onto AC and its surface area increased from 8.37 m2/g to 384.82 m2/g. The dye removal study was conducted at 10 ppm concentration of dye. Result revealed that 0.2 g of CuAC at pH 2 in 90 min removed 100% of CR dye.

Keywords

• copper(ii) activated carbon
• date seeds activated carbon
• congo red
• dye removal