Oxidation of dyes from colored wastewater using activated carbon/hydrogen peroxide

In this paper, the oxidation of dyes from colored textile wastewater by activated carbon (AC)/hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was discussed. Acid Red 18 (AR18), Direct Red 80 (DR80) and Reactive Red 194 (RR194) were used as model dyes. The surface characteristics of AC were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Dye oxidation by AC/H2O2 was studied by UV–Vis spectrophotometer and Ion chromatography (IC). The effects of AC dosage, initial dye concentration, pH and salt on dye oxidation were evaluated. Kinetics analysis indicated that the dye oxidation rates could be approximated at pseudo-second order model. Formate anion was detected as dominant aliphatic intermediate. Results indicated that the AC/H2O2 could be used as an eco-friendly material to degrade dyes from colored wastewater.

Research highlights
► Dye oxidation by AC/H2O2 was studied in details.
► Kinetics of dye oxidation could be approximated at pseudo-second order model.
► Formate anion was detected as dominant aliphatic intermediate.
► The AC/H2O2 could be used as an eco-friendly material to degrade dyes.