Removal of basic dyes from aqueous solutions using mustard waste ash and buffalo dung ash

The ability of the low cost materials viz. mustard waste ash (MWA) and buffalo dung ash (BDA) to remove two basic dyes, Methylene Blue (MB) and Crystal Violet (CV) in aqueous solution, was studied by the method of batch mode adsorption process. Effect of contact time, initial dye concentration (mg/L), adsorbent dosage (g/L) and pH was studied and results showed that amount of the dye adsorbed increase with increase in all the parameters studied. Data was fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich models and it showed that the both isotherm fitted well to the adsorption data. The Langmuir adsorption capacity of the MWA was 245.76 mg/g and 1079 mg/g respectively for MB and CV whereas this value for BDA was found to be 294.11 and 1063.38 for MB and CV respectively. Apart from this, adsorbents were characterized by Electron Dispersion X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).