ADSORPTION OF METHYL ORANGE DYE FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING CLAY OBTAINED FROM UTEH UZALLA BENIN CITY, EDO STATE
Faculty
Department
Year of Publication
upload
Publication Type
Abstract
The contamination of water bodies by synthetic dyes such as methyl orange from industrial effluents poses a significant environmental challenge due to their toxicity, persistence, and resistance to biodegradation. This study investigates the adsorption capacity of Uteh-Uzalla clay for the removal of Methy orange from aqueous solutions. . The clay was characterized using SEM, BET, XRD, TGA, and FTIR to determine its surface morphology, elemental composition, crystalline phases, thermal stability, and functional groups. BET analysis revealed a surface area of 170.571 m²/g, a pore volume of 0.109cm³/g, and an average pore size of 2.411nm, indicating a mesoporous structure suitable for adsorption. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed significant weight loss between 200°C and 600°C, attributed to the dehydroxylation of clay minerals, confirming its thermal stability.FTIR analysis indicated the presence of kaolinite with functional groups such as O–H stretching at 3693.8 cm⁻¹, Si–H stretching at 2117.1 cm⁻¹, and H–O–H bending at 1636.3 cm⁻¹. SEM imaging revealed a porous, agglomerated structure that could facilitate adsorption. Elemental analysis revealed that silicon (64.23%) and aluminum (29.98%) were the dominant elements, consistent with kaolinite's composition. XRD analysis showed moderate crystallinity, with peaks corresponding to kaolinite and quartz. The raw clay was then modified into sodium clay using sodium chloride, and further treated with humic acid to enhance its adsorption properties. Adsorption studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of key parameters such as pH, contact time, and temperature, on dye removal efficiency was quantified using UV-visible spectrophotometry at 464nm. Adsorption experiments showed that the optimal adsorption condictions are temperature of 70°C, pH of 10 and Contact time of 120 mins. The study concludes that modified Uteh-Uzalla clay is an effective and low-cost adsorbent for methyl orange removal and offers potential for wastewater treatment applications.
Supervisor(s)
co-supervisor