Adsorption is a well accepted process for dye-house effluent treatment, but disposal or regeneration of spent adsorbent is the major drawback. Regeneration and reuse of adsorbent can reduce the cost of sludge disposal, consequently the water treatment cost. Dye used for this study is Reactive Brown 18 and TiO2 was used as adsorbent, which can be regenerated efficiently using UV illumination. Adsorbed dyes were oxidised by photocatalytic reaction and the non-toxic final products can be discharged into the environment. Experimental results show that adsorption is effective at acidic condition (pH 3). Optimum TiO2 dose is 1 g.l−1 for a feed containing 100 mg.l−1 dye concentration. Results of decolourisation experiment show that more than 80% dye decolourisation is possible and the regenerated adsorbent can be used further.
Keywords: wastewater treatment, reactive dyes, RB 18, Reactive Brown 18, adsorption, photocatalysis, titanium dioxide, titania, textile dyes, dye effluent, decolourisation, adsorbent regeneration, adsorbent reuse