Removal of Remazol turquoise Blue G-133 from aqueous solution using modified waste newspaper fiber

Waste newspaper fiber (WNF) was separated and modified via grafting quaternary ammonium salt to obtain an adsorbent, which removes Remazol turquoise Blue G-133 (RTB G-133) from aqueous solutions. SEM and IR were used to analyze the morphology and chemical groups of the modified waste newspaper fiber (MWNF). Batch adsorption studies were conducted with varying adsorbent dosages, solution pH, and contact time. Adsorption isotherms and models were fitted. The SEM photographs show the surface of MWNF is smoother in comparison with that of WNF. The IR analysis indicates that the quaternary ammonium salt was successfully grafted onto the cellulose skeleton in WNF and the chemical interaction played an important role in adsorption. Results show that the equilibrium adsorption capacity can be reached within 360 min, and that the maximum adsorption capacity was 260 mg g−1. The adsorption of RTB G-133 on MWNF was a spontaneous endothermic process and well fitted pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The results show that MWNF is promising for dye wastewater treatment.