Chemicals and reagents All chemicals used were of the analytical reagent grade and of highest purity; such as activated carbon, sunset yellow FCF [C 20 H 24 O 2 , Zhejiang Xianju], sodium alginate [(C 6 H 7 NaO 6) n, Qingdao Bright Moon], sodium hydroxide [NaOH, Riedel-de Haën], hydrochloric acid [HCl, Scharlau], sulfuric acid [H 2 SO 4 , sever biotech], ethanol 96 % [C 2 H 5 OH, World co. for sub & med industries] and calcium chloride [CaCL 2 , Fisher Scientific]. The change of pH was adjusted using 0.1 M NaOH and 0.1 M HCl solutions. Methods Preparation of Adsorbent: Alginate beads with entrapped activated carbon were prepared by adding one g of activated carbon into 2% (wt./v) of sodium alginate solution. The mixture solution was added drop by drop to a 5 % (wt./v) CaCl 2 solution. The adsorbent formed taken out and washed with distilled water to be used in the adsorption method.