Removal of basic yellow cationic dye by an aqueous dispersion of Moroccan stevensite

The aim of this study was to investigate the adsorption of basic yellow, a cationic dye, from aqueous solution by natural stevensite, with 104 m2/g of specific surface area. The kinetics and the effects of several experimental parameters such as the pH of the solution, adsorbent dose and initial dye concentration were researched using a batch adsorption technique. The results showed that an alkaline pH favoured basic yellow adsorption and the adsorption reached equilibrium in about 20 min. It was concluded that the adsorption process was governed by the electrostatic interaction. The isothermal data were fitted by means of Langmuir and Freundlich equations, and a monolayer adsorption capacity of 454.54 mg/g was calculated. Finally, a good agreement was found between the pseudo-second order model and the experimental data. A high maximum adsorption capacity was obtained (526 mg/g) and a maximum surface density of ~ 9 dye molecules/nm2 was estimated, involving a columnar arrangement of the adsorbed molecules.