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The textile dyeing and finishing industry has created a huge impact on environment
by releasing most chemically intensive contaminants into water. Textile dye
contamination can alter the physico-chemical composition of water. Consequently,
Biochemical Oxidation Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), heat,
color, pH and electric conductivity of water may change. However, several physicochemical methods have been proposed to treat textile dye contaminated water. The
present study records the use of laboratory prepared coconut shell (Cocos nucifera)
and bamboo (Bambusa sp) granular activated carbon (GAC) for removal o f Cl
direct blue textile dye. Removal o f Cl direct blue dye was evaluated using two
standard particle sizes of GAC (1.18 - 2.36 mm and 0.43 - 1.70 mm) produced
using coconut shells and bamboo. 10, 50, 75 and 100 ppm of Cl direct blue textile
dye concentrations were prepared in 250ml flasks and 2g of coconut shell and
bamboo GAC o f both particle sizes were introduced into them. Control flasks
contained granulated carbon particles without activation. These experimental and
control flasks were maintained in dark for 5 days. Dye concentrations were
measured at 570nm at 24 hour intervals. According to the results of the study
coconut shell GAC (1.18 - 2.36 mm particle size) showed 100 % removal for 10, 50
and 75 ppm of dye whereas only 84.9% of removal for 100 ppm o f dye When 0.43
- 1.70 mm particle size o f coconut shell GAC was used 100 % removal was
observed for all studied concentrations of dye. Bamboo GAC (1.18 - 2.36 mm
particle size) showed 92.5% dye removal for 10 ppm, 88.3% for 50 ppm and less
than 70% for 75 and lOOppm. However, when 0.43 - 1.70 mm particle size of
bamboo GAC was used 100 % o f textile dye removal was observed for all studied
dye concentrations. Thus, the results of the study records that, both coconut shell
and bamboo GAC could be used to remove Cl direct blue textile dye present in
water. However, use o f small particle sizes (0.43 - 1.70 mm) o f both types of GAC
is more effective to treat high concentrations of Cl direct blue.
