Influence of humic acids on the adsorption of Basic Yellow 28 dye onto an iron organo–inorgano pillared clay and two Hydrous Ferric Oxides

Effect of humic acids (HAs), macromolecules from natural organic matter, on the adsorption of Basic Yellow 28 is the aim of the present work. Three adsorbents were investigated in this study: an iron organo–inorgano pillared clay and two synthetic Hydrous Iron Oxide (Goethite and HFO). The surface charge was positive in the pH range of this study for the pillared clay; in contrast, it changes from positive to negative when the pH value increased (pH > 9) for the two (oxy)hydroxides. Pseudo-first order kinetic rate constants and adsorption capacities increase from humic acid to BY 28. Adsorption isotherms of BY 28 and HA in single component were analysed using the Freundlich equation. Adsorption capacities increased sharply when the pH value of the dye solution was raised from 3 to 9. Increasing the pH medium from 3 to 9 reduces the HA adsorption capacities onto Fe-SMPM and iron oxyhydroxides, respectively. Fitting between measured and predicted sorption capacities of BY 28 and HA in a binary component system indicates that the Sheindorf–Rebuhn–Sheintuch (SRS) model, an extended Freundlich model, is able to describe the simultaneous adsorption of BY 28 and HA. Humic acids favourably affect the adsorption of BY 28, and a cooperative mechanism could be suggested. The synergetic effect existing between BY 28 and HA is shown by the interaction coefficients η12, which are generally high and increase with pH. Some phenomena have been advanced to explain this mechanism.

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► Competition between humic acids and Basic Yellow 28 dye.
► Adsorption onto a pillared clay and two iron (oxy)hydroxides.
► Sheindorf–Rebuhn–Sheintuch (SRS) model describe the simultaneous adsorption of BY 28 and humic acids.
► Humic acids enhance the adsorption of BY 28.