RESEARCH ARTICLE


Decolourisation of Metal-azo Dyes in Wastewaters by Sodium Peroxodisulphate: A Template for Experimental Investigations



Philip C.W. Cheung1, *, Daryl R. Williams1, Donald W. Kirk2, Pamela J. Murphy3, Stephen J. Barton4, James Barker4
1 Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
2 Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
3 Department of Geography, Geology and Environment, Kingston University, London KT1 2EE, UK
4 School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, London KT1 2EE, UK

Article Information


Identifiers and Pagination:

Year: 2023
Volume: 16
Publisher Id: e259027762301240
DOI: 10.2174/25902776-v16-e230216-2022-2

Article History:

Received Date: 18/07/2022
Revision Received Date: 06/10/2022
Acceptance Date: 05/12/2022
Electronic publication date: 28/03/2023
Collection year: 2023

© 2023 Cheung et al.

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; E-mail: philip.cheung@imperial.ac.uk


Abstract

Background:

It has long been recognized that the presence of azo metal complex dyes and their non-complexed counterparts in wastewaters, which is due to their manufacturing and use in the textile industries, renders natural waterways intensely coloured, and is therefore aesthetically unacceptable. Azo dye moieties are also known to be precursors of human carcinogenicity.

Objective:

This work aimed at the decolourisation of metal-azo dyes present in wastewaters so that pollution of natural bodies of water can be prevented. Decolourisation is indicative of the destruction of the metal-ligand complex, allowing the retrieval of transition metal ions, which are also water contaminants. Fracturing of the azo bond itself minimizes the potential for the carcinogenicity of these dyes.

Methods:

Decolourisation is achieved by the oxidative action of free radicals furnished by Na2S2O8, the sodium salt of peroxodisulphuric acid (Marshall’s acid). Raman spectroscopy characterizes the dye (ligand) known as “Eriochrome Black T (EBT)” by a peak at 1425 cm-1. Dismantling of its molecular structure by peroxodisulphate will lead to decolourisation accompanied by the collapse of the peak. Concomitantly, as EBT ligands fracture and cease to chelate, metallic ions are released, oxidized to a higher oxidation state, and precipitated as insoluble compounds in alkaline media.

Results:

The concentration of metallic ions in the aqueous phase has been found to be substantially reduced. The successfully treated dye solutions are mostly clear and colourless; their Beer-Lambert absorbances are in the range of 0.02 ≤ absorbance ≤ 0.05. The treatment of Ni(II), Co(II) and Fe(II)-EBT solutions is straightforward; the Cu(II) and Cr(III)-EBT solutions require additional treatment to be included in the above absorbance range. The Cr(III)-EBT is the least responsive to treatment. Fracturing of the azo bond is evinced by Raman Spectroscopy.

Conclusion:

A template to investigate the feasibility of decolourisation of metal-complex dye solutions is pioneered and recommended.

Keywords: Metal-azo dyes, Wastewater, Peroxodisulphate, Raman spectroscopy, Decolourisation, Azo-metallic dyes.