Earthen Pot Membrane Electrodialysis (EPME) for the Removal of Reactive Red 141 (RR141) Dye from Aqueous Solution

Addressing the management of industrial effluent has become a paramount concern to the research community. Within the textile industry wastewater, one prominent compound of concern is reactive red 141 (RR 141), which plays a significant role in introducing color to water. RR 141 is classified as a diazo reactive dye, characterized by its vibrant red hue, substantial molecular composition (C52H26Cl2N14Na8O26S8), and the presence of reactive sulfonic (-SO3Na) groups. In this study, an electrodialysis (ED) process featuring a dual-chamber setup (consisting of an anodic cell and a cathodic cell) separated by an earthen pot was employed to eliminate RR 141 dye from a synthetic dye solution by using graphite electrode. The study also examined the impact of pH variations and reaction time, with the outcomes being thoroughly documented. It was observed that for 100 mg/L RR 141 dye concentration, the color and COD removal achieved was 98% and 88%, respectively, within 30 minutes duration with 0.3A current at pH 8.92. ATR-IR spectra for the same also showed decrease in concentration of various functional groups. Thus, EPME can be employed successfully for the removal of RR 141 from textile wastewater.