E. Cheikh S’Id*, M. Degué, C. Khalifa, A. Sbai, E. Cheikh Moine, A. Md Lemine, C. M’Bareck
The present work describes the removal of methylene blue (MB) from water by adsorption process (bach method). This goal was achieved by the synthesis of special membranes from polysulfone (PSf) and poly acrylic acid (PAA) mixtures. The adsorption of MB onto PSf/PAA membrane was studied under different conditions: polymer proportions, pH and concentration of dye solution and contact time. Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) was employed to collect information about membrane morphology which affects adsorption process. Moreover, mechanic and kinetic models were applied to interpret the origin of adsorption. SEM images show that PSf/PAA membranes own a spongeous like- structure which might enhance adsorption of MB along membrane’s surface. Both Langmuir and Freundlich models confirm the adsorption of MB on PSf/PAA membrane. Results lead to values of Langmuir separation factor RL ranging between 0.38 and 0.08, Freundlich force higher than 1 (n = 1.86) and adsorption capacity Qm equal to 333 mg/g. The origin of adsorption was assigned to intermolecular interactions between carboxylic groups and dye molecules. Kinetic results demonstrate that the adsorption mechanism follows preferentially pseudo second order than the first pseudo order.
Adsorption, dye removal, methylene blue, membranes, poly acrylic acid, poly sulfone
Pages: 36-46
