Application of chitosan films for the removal of food dyes from aqueous solutions by adsorption

Chitosan films were applied to remove acid red 18 and FD&C blue no. 2 dyes from aqueous solutions. The films were prepared by casting technique and characterized. Batch adsorption equilibrium experiments were carried out at different temperatures (298–328 K). Freundlich, Langmuir and Redlich–Peterson models were fitted to the experimental data. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG0, ΔH0 and ΔS0) were also estimated. Kinetic study was realized using pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and Elovich models. The possible films–dyes interactions were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and color parameters. The maximum experimental adsorption capacities were 194.6 mg g−1 and 154.8 mg g−1 for the acid red 18 and FD&C blue no. 2, respectively, obtained at 298 K. It was found that the Redlich–Peterson isotherm model presented satisfactory fit with the experimental data (R2 > 0.98 and ARE < 9.00%). The adsorption process was spontaneous, favorable, exothermic, and occurred by electrostatic interactions. The Elovich model was the more appropriate to represent the adsorption kinetic data (R2 > 0.95 and ARE < 5.00%). The chitosan films maintained its structure and were easily separated from the liquid phase after the adsorption process.

► The adsorption of food dyes onto chitosan films was studied.
► The Redlich−Peterson model was the best to fit the equilibrium data.
► The maximum adsorption capacity was 194.6 mg g−1.
► The adsorption process was spontaneous, favorable and exothermic.
► Chitosan films were easily separated from the liquid phase after the adsorption.