A dependent step-by-step
study that included experimental and field
study was applied to explore the simplest and most effective system
that could be applied for adsorption of Congo Red (CR) dye from the
effluent of wastewater that comes out from different industries. Zeolite
(Z) surface and pores were subjected to a modification process using
green seaweed (GS) algae. Thereafter, each Z, GS, and composite from
both were evaluated based on the adsorption efficacy to clean up CR
dyes from aqueous solutions. A wet impregnation method was followed
to fabricate the zeolite/algae (ZGS) nanocomposite which was characterized
using the most appropriate characterization techniques. Batch experiments
were selected to be the method of choice in order to follow up the
performance of the adsorption process versus different practical variables.
Moreover, dye adsorption kinetics and isotherms were investigated
as well. At lowered concentrations of CR, the novel nanocomposite
ZGS revealed more efficacy than its counterparts, Z and GS, in terms
of the adsorption capacity. The maximum adsorption capacities were
found to be 8.10, 10.30, and 19.70 mg/g for Z, GS, and ZGS, respectively.
Laboratory tests confirmed that the novel nanocomposite ZGS could
be introduced as a new and economical nanoadsorbent to capture and
remove negatively charged dyes from wastewater effluents that come
out from industries at lower concentrations of CR dye and analogous
compounds. The dye adsorption on GS, Z, and ZGS coincide with the
pseudo-first, Langmuir isotherm, and second-order models. Evaluation
for the sorption mechanism was conducted using a diffusion model known
as Weber’s intraparticle. Depending on the last findings, field
experiments on removing dyes from industrial wastewater revealed optimistic
findings as the efficiency of our modern and eco-friendly nanoadsorbent
reached 91.11%, which helps in the reuse of industrial wastewater.