Application of bacterial extracellular polysaccharides/polyaniline composite for the treatment of Remazol effluent

Abstract

A complex Remazol dye effluent, comprised of Remazol Brilliant Blue R, Remazol Black, Remazol Violet, Remazol Orange, sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, and acetic acid, was decolorized using polyaniline/extracellular polymeric substance (Pn/EPS) composite. Scanning electron micrograph showed that the surface of the composite was rough with granular appearance, providing a good possibility for dyes adsorption. X-ray diffractogram (XRD) of the composite showed the main reflections of both Pn and EPSs (2θ = 6.0, 20.1 and 26.2, 30.4, and 40.8). Experiments were carried out as a function of contact time, pH, and adsorbent dose. Under optimized conditions, the maximum percentage removal was found to be 99.8% for the complex Remazol effluent. The Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo first-order rate expression showed satisfactory fit to the equilibrium biosorption data of Pn/EPS composite. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, XRD, and desorption studies confirmed the involvement of aromatic, amino, hydroxyl, and carboxylic groups in dye adsorption. The results indicate that composite is suitable as an adsorbent material for the enhanced removal of dyes from complex Remazol effluent. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.