Effectiveness of Dye Rb5 Adsorption onto Chitin and Chitosan under Static and Dynamic Conditions

Analyses were carried out for adsorption of a reactive dye RB5 onto chitin and chitosan under static and dynamic conditions in an air-lift reactor. Assays were conducted for the effect of the type of sorbent and its content in the reactor on adsorption capacity of sorbents examined. The sorbent’s concentration under static conditions and in the reactor reached 5 mg d.m./dm3. In all experimental series, the flow rate of dye inflowing to the reactor was constant and reached 1V/h (where V-reactor’s volume) and concentration of dye discharged to the reactor accounted for 100 mg/dm3. The solution’s reaction reached pH = 3.0 for chitin and pH = 5.0 Investigations demonstrated that running the adsorption process in an air-lift reactor under dynamic conditions had a beneficial effect on the amount of dye adsorbed both onto chitin and chitosan. In the case of chitin, the application of the air-lift reactor affect an increase in the quantity of dye adsorbed by 18%, whereas the quantity of dye adsorbed onto chitosan under dynamic conditions increased by 8%.