Novel cetyltrimethylammonium bromide modified mixed adsorbent for efficient treatment of dyeing and printing wastewater

The treatment of dyeing and printing wastewater is a formidable challenge due to its high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and chromaticity, which pose severe threats to both the environment and human health. In this study, a composite modified adsorption material was prepared based on the applicability and feasibility in practical engineering applications. A novel mixed modified adsorbent was developed by incorporating activated carbon and activated clay as the foundation materials, followed by the addition of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) for modification. The performance of the composite adsorbent was evaluated via adsorption experiments of bromophenol blue (BPB) solution and dyeing and printing wastewater. The results demonstrated that the mixed modified adsorbent achieved a remarkable removal rate of 99% for BPB and 99.3% for chromaticity, under the optimal adsorption conditions. Furthermore, the regeneration performance of the mixed modified adsorbent was found to be exceptional. The adsorption process of BPB by the composite adsorbent was governed by the quasi-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm model, as evidenced by adsorption kinetics and isotherm analyses. The straightforward preparation method, coupled with the superior adsorption performance, underlines the promising potential of the proposed composite adsorbent for practical applications.