Removal of dyes from water by conducting polymeric adsorbent

Chemically synthesized conducting polyaniline (PANI) was investigated as adsorbent for its possible application in the removal of organic dyes, such as methylene blue (MB) and procion red (PR) from their aqueous solution. PANI adsorbent behaves as a charged surface upon post‐synthesis treatment of the polymer with acid and base. The adsorbent thus treated shows a high selectivity for the removal of dyes in the adsorption process. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm was used to represent the experimental adsorption data. The cationic dye, MB can be preferentially removed by the base‐treated PANI while the anionic dye, PR is predominately removed by the acid‐treated one. These observations were further evidenced from the measurements of molar conductance and pH of the dye solutions employed for adsorption. The finding can be explained considering the electrostatic nature of adsorption coupled with the morphology of the PANI surface thus treated.