Adsorption of textile dye from aqueous solution onto a low cost conch shells

The objective of this study was to investigate the adsorption of basic yellow 28 that is a cationic dye on conch shells. the factors affecting the adsorption process such as the initial concentration of the dye, ph of the solution, the adsorbent dosage and the time of contact were investigated in a batch-adsorption technique. the removal efficiency of basic yellow 28 dye with an initial concentration of 25 mg/l was greater than 95% for 120 min contact time. the freundlich adsorption isotherm provided adequate fit for the equilibrium adsorption data (r²> 0.99), while the pseudo second order rate equation described the kinetic adsorption data quite well (r²> 0.99). kinetic studies showed that film diffusion and intra-particle diffusion were simultaneously operating during the adsorption process. a temperature uptake from 20°c to 50°c induced a decrease of adsorption for of basic yellow 28 and the process was found to be exothermic and spontaneous. it may be concluded that conch shells may be used as low-cost adsorbent for the removal of basic yellow 28 and it may also be effective in removing as well other harmful or undesirable species present in the wastewater.