Effective removal of Allura red food dye from water using cross-linked chitosan-diatomite composite beads.

Chitosan (Ch)-diatomite (D) composite beads (Ch-D) were synthesized using epichlorohydrin and tripolyphosphate crosslinkers and then moulded into uniform beads in tripolyphosphate solution. FT-IR and SEM-EDX analyses showed that Ch-D composite adsorbent was successfully synthesized by functionalization of chitosan to Ch-D by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions and improved adsorption capacity for removal of Allura red AC (AR) food dye. The removal rate of AR food dye was found to be 98 % at 25 °C, natural AR dye pH value, 24 h, and at the initial AR dye concentration of 200 mg L. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 34.7 mg g. It was observed that π-π interactions, hydrogen bonds, and electrostatic interactions between the functional groups containing oxygen and amine on the surface of the Ch-D composite and the functional groups of the anionic AR dye, and AR dye adsorption via complexation took place. In light of all this information, the Ch-D composite adsorbent is a promising potential material for the effective treatment of colored pollutants from wastewater.