Abstract
The use of oil fly ash after the recovery of heavy valuable metals was investigated. More specifically, its use, as an adsorbent of dyes from industrial wastewater, was evaluated. Methylene blue was used as a model compound to study the adsorption capacity of the proposed carbonaceous residue from metal recovery treatments. The effects of contact time, initial dye concentration, and absorbent dose were investigated. The maximum amount of dye was adsorbed after one hour. Moreover, 1-3 g of residues were necessary for the removal of 200-1000 mg dm–3 from 0.050 dm3 of contacted solution. The Langmuir isotherm model was in good agreement with the adsorption equilibrium data, indicating a maximum monolayer saturation capacity of approximately 40 mg/g at 25 °C. High abatement efficiencies (up to 99 %) were obtained, and the adsorbed dye was released almost immediately by re-contacting with water. The adsorption capacity was at least four times lower than that of commercially available active carbon. The double treatment of oil fly ash with deionised water and hydrochloric acid allows for the extraction of over 85 % of the vanadium, iron, and nickel content in the ash. However, the negligible or zero cost of solid residues, otherwise disposed in landfills, indicates their potential as a valid alternative. The use of oil fly ash for both recovery of heavy valuable metals and the subsequent removal of dyes from wastewater suggest a zero-waste process.