Removal of reactive dyes from aqueous solution by modified electric arc furnace slag

Abstract

The utilization of modified electric arc furnace slag (EAFS) was successfully carried out to remove reactive dyes (SSB-BRF) from aqueous solutions. Modified EAFS was prepared and characterized by BET surface area analyzer and FESEM. The result of FESEM micrograph shows that the structure of modified EAFS has similar structure to the flower-like porous hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoarchitectures composed of ultra-thin nanoflakes. Batch studies were carried out to address various experimental parameters such as adsorbent amount and concentration of dye. In the batch system, the maximum SSB-BRF uptake capacities of modified and original EAFS adsorbent (at 300 ppm dye concentration) were 80.03 and 20.99 mgg-1 respectively. In the batch system for different amount of slag, the maximum uptake capacities SSB-BRF of modified and original EAFS were 92.24 and 19.08 mgg-1 (adsorption of 300 ppm of dye concentration onto 0.1 g of slag) respectively. The Langmuir models were able to describe the adsorption equilibrium. The results indicated that modified EAFS could be employed as an excellent and low-cost sorbent for removal of reactive dye from aqueous solution.