Removal of Methylene Blue Dye from Aqueous Solutions Using Activated Fly Ash from Zarand Power Plant in Kerman

Adsorption is one of the major Processes for the removal of dyes from wastewater. This study investigates the removal of methylene blue dye, as an index color, using activated fly ash. For this purpose, fly ash from Zarand Power Plant was activated with formaldehyde in an acidic medium and used as the adsorbent. The parameters involved in the fly ash activation process (including temperature, time, formaldehyde content, as well as acid concentration and content) and those affecting the adsorption process were adjusted for optimized conditions. Experiments were performed with samples of real effluent from Baft Yazd Textile Plant. Preparation of activated fly ash was accomplished in a formaldehyde to fly ash ratio of 0.25, an acid concentration of 8%, and an acid to fly ash ratio of 6 over 5 hours. Maximum removal efficiency of methylene blue from synthetic samples (with a concentration of 50mg/L) under optimal conditions (pH: 9, contact time: 30 minutes, temperature: 35 0c, and adsorbent dose: 3g/L) was equal to 99.07 ± 0.112%. Under these same conditions, an adsorption capacity of 16.5± 0.55 mg/g was achieved. The methylene blue removal efficiency from real samples under optimal conditions was 91.8±0.36%. Based on the findings of this study, modified fly ash from Zarand Power Plant may be recommended as an inexpensive adsorbent that can be used with a high removal efficiency for removing dyes from industrial effluents.