Layered Clay-Alginate Composites for the Adsorption of Anionic Dyes: A Biocompatible Solution for Water/Wastewater Treatment

Adsorption properties  of layered anionic clay-composites for the removal of anionic dyes from water were  studied. The dye adsorption capacities of the composites were higher than the  pristine clay. The clay-alginate composite with 5.9% alginate showed highest  adsorption for both the dyes. The maximum adsorption capacity of the composite  was enhanced by 51% for Acid Green 25 and 160% for Acid Green 27, compared to  the pristine layered clay sample. The adsorption isotherm data were fitted to  the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models. The isotherm data could be  explained well using the Freundlich isotherm model. Adsorption kinetics was  analyzed using normal first order and Lagergren first order kinetic models.

section_content: Clay-polymer composites and nanocomposites have gained increasing attention worldwide academically as well as industrially due to the superior properties they exhibit compared to either the clay or the polymer. Besides, they have the advantage that their properties can be tailored according to the requirement. A wide variety of composites/nanocomposites with different clay-polymer combinations have been synthesized and used for various applications [1]. Application of different clay-polymer composites and nanocomposites for water treatment is well documented [2] [3] [4] [5]. A large number of the studies report use of clay minerals like, montmorillonite, Bentonite etc., with different polymers for the syntheses of claypolymer nanocomposites for water treatment applications [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]. However, limited studies report the use of layered anionic clays for making clay-polymer composites for removing various toxic materials from water [9, 10]. 

Layered anionic clays, also known as layered double hydroxides (LDHs), have been found to be good adsorbents for ground water/waste water treatment [11] [12] [13]. Synthesis of biocompatible composites and their application in water treatment has been a recent research area of increasing interest. Alginate is a naturally occurring carbohydrate polymer often used for immobilization of biological entities [14]. It can offer biocompatibility to synthetic anionic clays by composite formation. We have recently reported the synthesis of alginate and layered anionic clay composites and their application in fluoride and Orange II dye removal [15]. These composites exhibited enhanced adsorption capacity for the adsorption of fluoride and Orange II dye from aqueous solution. 

The present study reports the synthesis of layered clayalginate composites with varying amount of sodium alginate (MgAl-Alg, wt%: 3, 5. 9, 11 and 20). Adsorption characteristics of the synthesized composites (MgAl-Alg) are studied for the adsorption of anthraquinone dyes, Acid Green 25 (AG 25) and Acid Green 27 (AG 27) for the first time. The dye adsorption capacity of the pristine clay (MgAl) increased considerably on formation of composite with sodium alginate (Alg) and was dependent on the alginate concentration of the composite. A detailed study on the influence of alginate concentration on the dye adsorption capacity, adsorption isotherms and kinetics of adsorption is presented in this paper. Being a biopolymer, sodium alginate is expected to offer biocompatibility to the synthesized clay-alginate composite adsorbents.
section_name: Introduction

section_name: Materials and Methods

section_content: Layered anionic clay (MgAl) was synthesized from anhydrous AlCl 3, and MgCl 2 •6H 2 O (AR Grade, sd Fine Chemicals Ltd., India). AR grade NaOH pellets were used for co-precipitation (MERCK Chemicals). Sodium alginate was procured from HiMedia Laboratory Chemicals and Biochemicals Pvt. Ltd., India. Double distilled water was used for the syntheses. The dyes AG 25 and AG 27 used in the adsorption studies were procured from Aldrich Chemicals.
section_name: Materials

section_content: Layered anionic clay (MgAl) and its composites with varying concentrations of sodium alginate (Alg) were prepared by co-precipitation following the methods described in our previous articles [11, 15]. MgAl was prepared by co-precipitation in an aqueous solution containing anhydrous AlCl 3 and MgCl 2 •6H 2 O (Mg:Al molar ratio of 2) by 2 M NaOH solution at 60˚C and a pH of 10 ± 0. 5. The precipitate formed was aged for 24 h under continuous stirring, separated using centrifuge and repeatedly washed with distilled water till the washing was neutral to litmus and subsequently dried at 60˚C in an air oven till constant weight was obtained. 

MgAl-Alg composites with different alginate concentrations (3 wt%, 5. 9 wt%, 11 wt% and 20 wt%) were synthesized by in-situ co-precipitation. A fine suspension of sodium alginate was made by adding required weight of sodium alginate in 50 ml of distilled water at 60˚C. Co-precipitation of the clay was performed in the sodium alginate-water suspension (Mg:Al molar ratio of 2) using 2 M NaOH solution following the above mentioned procedure for the synthesis of MgAl. Five different adsorbents, MgAl, MgAl-Alg (3%), MgAl-Alg (5. 9%), MgAl-Alg (11%) and MgAl-Alg (20%) were synthesized and used in this study.
section_name: Synthesis of Adsorbents

section_content: The mineralogical phases and crystallinity of MgAl and its composites with sodium alginate were studied using X-ray diffraction (XPERT-PRO XRD from PANalytical Instruments using CuK α radiation). The morphology of the adsorbent surface was obtained by scanning electron microscopy (Leica Stereoscan 440 Scanning Electron Microscope). The specific surface area of MgAl-Alg composites, pristine MgAl and sodium alginate was determined by Autosorb 1C from Quantachrome Instruments, USA.
section_name: Characterization Techniques

section_content: Batch adsorption experiments at room temperature (25˚C) were performed in a thermostatic shaker (Julabo SW-21C) to study the adsorption characteristics of the clay and its composites for the dyes AG 25 and AG 27. Isotherm data was collected by contacting 100 cm 3 of aqueous dye solution of varying concentrations (0. 03 to 2. 1 mmol/l) with 0. 2 g of the adsorbent in a 250 cm 3 conical flask with stopper for three hours. For kinetic studies, 100 cm 3 of dye solution at (0. 14 mmol/l) was contacted with 0. 2 g of the adsorbent in a 250 cm 3 conical flask with stopper. Samples were taken out periodically and the change in concentration of the dye with time was determined using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer (Spectroscan 2600 from Chemito, India). The amount adsorbed per unit weight of the adsorbent (Q t, mmol/g) at time t (min) was estimated from the values of initial dye concentration (C 0, mmol), the dye concentration (C t, mmol) at time "t", the adsorbate volume (V, cm 3 ) and the adsorbent weight (W, g) by the following equation:
section_name: Batch Adsorption Experiments

section_content: The isotherm data were fitted to Langmuir [16], Freundlich [17] and Temkin [18] adsorption isotherm models. Equations for the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm model are presented as Equations ( 2 )-( 4 ) respectively. 

1

ln ln and

where, Q e : The equilibrium adsorption capacity (mmol/g). C e : Equilibrium adsorbate (dye) concentration (mmol/l). b: Langmuir isotherm constant for adsorption bond energy (l/mmol). 

V m : Langmuir isotherm constant for monolayer adsorption capacity (mmol/g). 

n: Freundlich isotherm constant representing adsorption affinity. 

k F : Freundlich isotherm constant representing adsorption capacity (mmol/g). 

A: Temkin isotherm equilibrium binding constant (l/mmol). 

b T : Temkin isotherm constant. R: Universal gas constant (8. 314 J/mol/K). 

T: Absolute temperature (K). B: Temkin isotherm constant related to heat of sorption (J/mmol). 

The kinetic data were fitted to the standard first order kinetic expression and the Lagergren first order expression [19] as presented in Equations ( 5 ) and ( 6 ) respectively:

( )

where, Q e, Q t, C 0 and C t retain their conventional meaning. k 1 : Standard first order rate constant. k L : Lagergren first order rate constant. shows shift in 003 and 006 diffraction peaks, from higher to lower 2θ values indicating an increase in interlayer space of the layered clay after composite formation. This reveals that alginate ions, when present in high concentration, get intercalated into the interlayer space of the layered clay structure.
section_name: Adsorption Isotherm & Kinetic Equations

section_name: Results and Discussions

section_content: Figure 2 shows the SEM images of the pristine clay and its composites. Pristine MgAl crystals are flake-like with sharp edges, stacked in the form of layers (Figure 2(a) ) whereas sodium alginate (Figure 2(b) ) has a smooth surface. Small alginate particles can be seen spread over the clay surface and in-between layers of the clay, at low alginate concentrations (Figures 2(c) and (d) ). At higher concentrations (Figures 2(e ) and (f)), alginate starts forming a smooth continuous/semi-continuous layer on the clay. 

The specific surface area of MgAl, MgAl-Alg (3%), MgAl-Alg (5. 9%), MgAl-Alg (11%) and MgAl-Alg (20%), determined by nitrogen adsorption-desorption technique, are 51. 8, 53. 7, 59. 5, 52. 0 and 40. 0 m 2 /g respectively. The surface area of sodium alginate from nitrogen adsorption-desorption experiments is zero indicating that its surface does not adsorb nitrogen. The surface area of the pristine clay increased on composite formation and increases on increase in alginate concentration up to 5. 9% beyond which it starts decreasing.
section_name: Characterization of Adsorbents

section_content: Adsorption capacity of the composites containing different concentration of sodium alginate was evaluated for the two dyes, AG 25 and AG 27. Figure 3 shows that the adsorption capacity for both the dyes vary with sodium alginate concentration and passes through a maximum at an alginate concentration of 5. 9%. The increase in adsorption capacity may be directly correlated with the increase in specific surface area of the composites up to an alginate concentration of 5. 9%. Nevertheless, as the adsorption capacities of the composites are higher than the pristine clay (0% sodium alginate) a detailed study has been performed to understand the adsorption mechanism of the layered clay-alginate composites.
section_name: Influence of Alginate Concentration on Dye Adsorption

section_content: The tercepts of the linearized plot of the corresponding isotherm equations (Equations ( 2 )-( 4 )). Table 1 presents the values of different isotherm constants along with the structure and molecular weight of the two dyes. 

Table 1 shows that the fitting of experimental data was best (R 2 values very close to unity) with Langmuir model for AG 25 and with Freundlich model for AG 27. The values of Langmuir monolayer capacity (V m ) matches well with the Freundlich adsorption constant (k F ) for the dye AG 25. However, for the dye AG 27, the values of Langmuir monolayer capacity (V m ) were little higher than the Freundlich adsorption constant (k F ). The monolayer adsorption capacity of the composite increased up to 50% for AG 25 and 150% for AG 27. For both the dyes, the maximum capacity was achieved by the composite with 5. 9% sodium alginate. The high values of adsorption bond energy (b) show good adsorption characteristics of both the dyes on the composites. The values of affinity constant, n, (>1) of Freundlich model indicate favorable adsorption characteristics of the composites for the dyes [20]. The reasonably low values of Temkin isotherm constant B, related to heat of adsorption, indicates purely physical nature of this adsorption process [20]. 

The standard adsorption isotherms [equilibrium adsorption capacity Vs equilibrium adsorbate concentration, Q e Vs C e ] for the two dyes AG 25 and AG 27 have been presented in Figure 4 (represented by data points). Figure 4 shows that the standard adsorption isotherms for both dyes represent "H"-type curve where, H stands for "high affinity", a special case of Langmuir isotherm, as proposed by Giles et al. [21]. H-type isotherms are observed in cases when the solute has such high affinity that in dilute solutions it is completely adsorbed. Therefore the initial part of the isotherm is vertical. Beyond the inflection the curve is of normal L-type (Langmuir-type) isotherm. This indicates the exchange of sulphonated dye ions with chloride ions of the layered clay during the sorption process in a similar fashion as Giles et al. described the exchange of sulphonated dye ions with chloride ions on alumina surface [21]. 

The equilibrium adsorption capacity (Q e ) generated using different isotherm models are presented as continuous line in Figure 4. Although the Langmuir isotherm model gave an excellent fitting to the experimental adsorption data in the initial region, it did not match well with the experimental data points at higher adsorbate concentration. In contrast, Q e values generated using Freundlich isotherm model show excellent match with the experimental data indicating heterogeneity in the adsorbent sites for the adsorption of AG 25 and AG 27.
section_name: Adsorption Isotherm

section_content: The kinetic data for the adsorption of the dyes AG 25 and AG 27 on MgAl and its composites with sodium alginate was fitted to the standard first order equation as well as the Lagergren models. The rate constants based on these models and the respective regression coefficients are presented in Table 2. Table 2 shows that the kinetic data can be presented well by both the first order rate equation and the Lagergren equation. 

The values of kinetic constants k 1 and k L are higher in case of the composites as compared to the pristine LDH. Opening of the interlayer spaces of the LDH by the alginate ions/particles may increase the accessibility of the interlayer sites, in the case of adsorption on the composite. This decrease in resistance can lead to the observed high values of the rate constant in the case of MgAl-Alg composites. The concentration and the amounts adsorbed were predicted for different time intervals using the standard first order and Lagergren rate equations respectively for the adsorption of AG 25 and AG 27 on MgAl and MgAl-Alg composites with alginate concentration of 3%, 5. 9%, 11% and 20%. The predicted values for AG 25 and AG 27 are plotted against experimental ones and presented in Figures 5(a 2. 

In the case of both the models, the rate constants k 1 and k L exhibit higher value for the composite compared to the pristine LDH. The value is the highest for an alginate concentration of 5. 9%.
section_name: Adsorption Kinetics

section_content: The adsorbates AG 25 and AG 27 are anionic dyes. The mechanism of adsorption of these dyes on the anionic clay and its composites is expected to be adsorption and ion-exchange. AG 25 and AG 27 are bulky anthraquinone based dyes and there can be resistance to their penetration into the interlayer spaces of the anionic clay. 

Hence it is expected that these dyes will be interacting with the external surface of adsorbate by both ion-exchange and physisorption, with equal ease. AG 25 and AG 27 are similar except for the fact that the -CH 3 groups in AG 25 is replaced by the longer -C 4 H 9 groups in AG 27. These butyl groups present in AG 27 may increase the penetration of this dye into the interlayer spaces of the LDH and LDH composites. The bond energy for the adsorption, the constant b in the Langmuir Isotherm (Table 1 ) is higher for the adsorption of AG 25 on the clay studied and the clay-alginate composites. The high value observed for AG 25 may be a reflection of the adsorption of this dye, predominantly by anion-exchange, occurring on the absorbent surface. The variation of Lagergren rate constants as a function of alginate concentration is presented in Figure 6. The figure shows that the adsorption rate constant for AG 27 is higher compared to AG 25. As discussed earlier, the butyl groups in AG 27 might be easing the penetration of the dye into the interlayer spaces of the adsorbent. Hence the rate constant k L for the adsorption of AG 27 is higher compared to AG 25. Figure 6 reveals that the rate of adsorption of both AG 25 and AG 27 are sensitive to the sodium alginate concentration. The rate is maximum at an alginate concentration of 5. 9%. At this alginate concentration, the rate is increased by 48% for AG 25 and by 141% for AG 27. This increase in rate may be due to the opening up of the interlayer spaces of MgAl by the alginate. As the alginate concentration further increases, it being a polymer, forms smooth continuous patches on the clay surface which may be hindering the adsorption of the mole- cules. This also leads to a decrease in the adsorption capacity of the adsorbents as can be seen in Figure 3.
section_name: Adsorption Mechanism

section_content: The anionic clay MgAl and its composites with sodium alginate, a biocompatible natural polymer, were synthesized and characterized. The adsorption properties of these materials were studied for the adsorption of anthraquinone dyes, AG 25 and AG 27. The adsorption behaviour of the composites was superior to that of the pristine clay, however, varied with the alginate concentration in the composite. The adsorption rate and capacity of the dyes on the composites followed the order AG 27 > AG 25. Comparison of the adsorption characteristics of pristine clay reveals that the maximum adsorption capacity of the bio-composite increase by 51% and 160% in the case of adsorbates AG 25 and AG 27, respectively. The maximum adsorption rate increases by 48% and 147% for the adsorbates AG 25 and AG 27, respectively. This has been discussed in terms of the structure of the dye and the surface changes of pristine clay on composite formation. Among the composites, the one with alginate concentration of 5. 9% had the highest adsorption capacity for all the dyes studied. The results reveal that these composites may be used for removal of these dyes from aqueous effluents.
section_name: Conclusion