A CHITOSAN-TiO2 IMPRINTED POLYMER FOR THE QUANTITATIVE REMOVAL OF CONGO RED DYE FROM TEXTILE WASTEWATERS

Removal of Congo red (CR) dye from textile waste effluents is a challenging task. Therefore, a new molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based on Chitosan-TiO2 nanocomposite (CTNC) was synthesized for the quantitative and selective removal of CR as a brand anionic dye from textile wastewaters. The physicochemical features and efficiency of the prepared MIP-nanoparticles were investigated using various spectral techniques including FTIR, XRD, SEM, and N-2-adsorption-desorption isotherm. The mechanism and kinetics of CR removal were systematically investigated. The data fitted well into the Langmuir and the pseudo-second order models, revealing monolayer dye molecules formation. The prepared CTNC-MIPs was successfully applied to the elimination of CR, as a brand anionic dye, from highly polluted textile wastewaters. Moreover, the exceptionally high adsorption capacity, stability, and recyclability of the prepared CTNC-MIPs make it an excellent competitive to previously reported adsorbents.