Removal of Rhodamine B from wastewater by modified Volvariella volvacea: batch and column study

Abstract

This study investigated the biosorption of Rhodamine B (a carcinogenic dye) onto Volvariella volvacea in batch and bed column experiments. Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide-modified V. volvacea (HMV) showed the best performance in removing Rhodamine B, with a biosorption capacity of 33.51 mg g⁻¹. Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetic models described the experimental data obtained from the batch mode well. The initial concentration, flow rate, and bed height significantly influenced the dye removal in the continuous column process. Bohart–Adams, Thomas and Yoon–Nelson models were successfully fitted with breakthrough curves obtained under varying experimental conditions. The applicability of HMV was tested using simulated industrial wastewater, and the results confirmed that several dyes and other contaminants could be effectively removed by HMV. V. volvacea is an efficient and economical biosorbent for the removal of dye from wastewater.