Comparative cost of colour removal from textile effluents using natural adsorbents

Abstract

Abstract A number of low‐cost materials (natural clay, bagasse pith and maize cob) have been used as adsorbents for dyestuffs (Astrazon Blue, Maxilon Red and Telon Blue) in aqueous solutions. The adsorption capacity for each dye‐adsorbent system has been determined. The relative costs of dye removal were reported based on adsorption capacity only. The following results were found. First, the relative cost of the removal of Astrazon Blue using natural clay, bagasse pith and maize cob was found to be only 1·7%, 3·9% and 4·1% that of carbon respectively. Second, the relative cost of the removal of Maxilon Red using natural clay, maize cob and bagasse pith was found to be only 2·4%, 8·3% and 10·3% that of carbon respectively. Last, the relative cost of the removal of Telon Blue using maize cob, natural clay and bagasse pith was found to be only 2·9%, 3·0% and 5·2% that of carbon respectively.