The Dual Roles of Activated Carbon as an Adsorbent and Photocatalyst for Azo Dye Removal

Overview

The rise of the fast fashion and textile industries has proliferated the release of toxic azo dye effluent into the environment, contributing to ~20% of global industrial pollution. Azo dye removal via the adsorptive and photocatalytic properties of activated carbon (AC) may provide an efficient, cost-effective treatment for industrial wastewater effluent. This study investigated AC’s potential for the removal of structurally diverse azo dyes, Mordant Orange 1 (MO1) and Reactive Black 5 (RB5), through AC’s dual mechanisms of adsorption and reactive radical generation via photocatalysis. MO1 (430 mg/L) was incubated with AC and UV irradiation inclusion or exclusion for 60 minutes and subjected to UV-visible spectroscopy to determine dye concentrations remaining in solution. AC (40 mg) under darkness removed 99% of MO1. Near complete MO1 removal without the generation of any residual organic byproduct was confirmed with a total organic carbon analysis. Under UV light, MO1 removal stayed the same, suggesting that MO1 removal by AC takes place through only adsorption. A reactive oxygen species assay revealed RB5 (77 mg/L) removal by AC under UV irradiation due to reactive radical generation which is photocatalyzed by AC. Post-experimental findings, a computational analysis with the Amsterdam Modeling Suite, conducted to determine the impact of chemical modifications on AC’s photocatalytic properties, showed a decrease in AC’s band gap energy with the addition of aldehyde groups. Following future in situ research, AC is anticipated to serve as a versatile material for the removal of various azo dyes through its mechanisms of adsorption and photocatalysis.

Awards (1)

• Fourth Award of $500 $500

Competition history

• ISEF 2023 Environmental Engineering · Entry ENEV060 · Dallas, Texas, United States

Resources

• ISEF abstract page ↗

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