Evaluation of different factors in the removal of remazol brilliant blue from aqueous solutions by adsorption in sugarcane and green coconut fibers

ABSTRACT The textile industries, during the dyeing process, release a large amount of dyes in the water. In addition to its visual effect and its adverse impacts on photosynthesis and chemical oxygen demand, many synthetic dyes are toxic, recalcitrant, mutagenic and carcinogenic. In this way, new alternatives of treatment of the generated effluents, less aggressive to the environment, of low cost and renewable have been sought, as the use of lignocellulosic agricultural residues, like dyes adsorbents. In this study, sugar cane and coconut fibers were studied for their ability to adsorb Remazol Brilliant Blue BB dye, and the effects of time, pH, amount of adsorbent material and dye concentration on dye adsorption were investigated. The optimal adsorption time was 24 h for coconut fiber and 12 h for sugar cane fiber. For both fibers, the optimal pH for the adsorption of dye was 2, and the use of 20 g L-1 of fiber was the most effective for removing 50-200 mg L-1 of Remazol Brilliant Blue BB, with adsorption percentages of above 90.50% observed for both fibers.