Bagasse fly ash (BFA) is one of the important wastes generated in the sugar industry; it has been studied as a prospective low-cost adsorbent in the removal of congo red (CR) from aqueous solutions. Chemical treatment with H2O2 was applied in order to modify the adsorbability of the raw BFA. Batch studies were performed to evaluate the influence of various experimental parameters such as dye solution pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, and temperature. Both the adsorbents were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrophotometer and nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. Equilibrium isotherms for the adsorption of CR were analyzed by Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin models using non-linear regression technique. Intraparticle diffusion seems to control the CR removal process. The obtained experimental data can be well described by Langmuir and also followed second order kinetic models. The calculated thermodynamic parameters indicate the feasibility of the adsorption process for the studied adsorbents. The results indicate that BFA can be efficiently used for the treatment of waste water containing dyes.

• Mona A. Shouman(Surface Chemistry and Catalysis Laboratory, Physical Chemistry Department, National Research Centre)
• Nady A. Fathy(Surface Chemistry and Catalysis Laboratory, Physical Chemistry Department, National Research Centre)
• Sahar M. El-Khouly(Surface Chemistry and Catalysis Laboratory, Physical Chemistry Department, National Research Centre)
• Amina A. Attia(Surface Chemistry and Catalysis Laboratory, Physical Chemistry Department, National Research Centre) Corresponding Author