Removal of Anionic Dye from Tannery Wastewater Using Peanut Shell Waste as a Biosorbent

Abstract

Contamination of water bodies by organic substances, such as dyes, cause impacts on the environment and human health. Furthermore, the search for environmentally appropriate destinations for solid waste, such as those from agro-industries, has been intensifying, to minimize the impact of the growing generation of waste as a result of population growth. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the use of raw peanut shells as an alternative adsorbent for the removal of Brown acid dye from synthetic leather dyeing wastewater. The peanut shells were milled and sieved. The material was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The parameters evaluated in the adsorption tests were pH, contact time, and mass of adsorbent material. The maximum adsorption capacity verified for the peanut shell was 7.753 mg/g and up to 93% of the dye was removed. The best adsorption conditions were at pH 2.5, 10 minutes, and adsorbent mass of 0.3 g in 50 mL of effluent. The results showed relevant removal of the Brown acid dye by the peanut shells’ adsorbent material.