Strategically dewaxed honeycomb powder is a promising and eco-friendly alternative for the removal of malachite green through fixed bed column

Abstract

A fixed-bed column study for the removal of malachite green (MG) from the aqueous phase was demonstrated using strategically dewaxed honeycomb powder (HCP). The removal efficiency was tested at several working column parameters such as column bed height, initial dye concentration, working pH, and flow rate. Breakthrough curves have been plotted using throughput volume versus concentration ratio for different parameters to identify the pathway of uptake. Thomas and BDST kinetic models have been exercised to obtain rate constants and uptake capacity. BDST model suggests an adsorption capacity of 196.28 mg/L. The column performance was seen to vary with solution pH and was found favorable at higher pH.The adsorption rate decreases with increasing flow rate but increases with increasing concentration of the dye. Easy regeneration ensures multi-cycle operations. The mechanism of dye adsorption by HCP has been proposed to be a blend of electrostatic attraction and weak forces. Henceforth the use of HCP for removal of MG in column mode may be extrapolated to serve as a promisingagent in the treatment of dye-containing water and wastewater.