title: Removal of the hazardous dye rhodamine B through photocatalytic and adsorption treatments.
abstract: This paper reports on photocatalytic and adsorptive treatment of a hazardous xanthene dye, Rohdamine B, in wastewater. The photocatalytic degradation was carried out in the presence of the catalyst TiO(2) and the effects of pH, concentration of the dye, amount of TiO(2), temperature and electron acceptor H(2)O(2) on the degradation process were observed. It was found that photocatalytic degradation by TiO(2) is an effective, economical and faster mode of removing Rohdamine B from aqueous solutions. Attempts were also made to utilize activated carbon and rice husk as potential adsorbents to remove Rhodamine B from wastewater. The adsorption studies were carried out at 40, 50 and 60 degrees C, and the effects of pH, temperature, amount of adsorbents, concentration of adsorbate, etc., on the adsorption were measured. On the basis of adsorption data the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models were also confirmed. The adsorption isotherm constants thus obtained were employed to calculate thermodynamic parameters like Gibb's free energy, change in enthalpy and entropy. In order to observe the quality of wastewater COD measurements were also carried out before and after the treatments. A significant decrease in the COD values was observed, which clearly indicates that both photocatalytic and adsorption methods offer good potential to remove Rhodamine B from industrial effluents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Chemistry, Jiwaji University, Gwalior 474 011, India.
authors.forename: Rajeev
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Megha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.forename: Shalini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sikarwar
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mittal
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002384:Catalysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D012235:Rhodamines; C009495:titanium dioxide; D002606:Charcoal; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D014025:Titanium; C029773:rhodamine B