Sorption of Remazol Black B dye in alluvial soils of the Capibaribe River Basin, Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract Wastewater from textile industries is loaded with synthetic dyes. These effluents are often not adequately treated, affecting the soil and groundwater quality and leading to environmental contamination. The Agreste mesoregion of the state of Pernambuco is home to one of the largest textile centers in Brazil. This work therefore aims to study the behavior of Remazol Black B (RB5) dye in subsurface mediums in this region. The kinetics and isotherm sorption experiments allowed an evaluation of RB5 retention capacity in two layers of alluvial soil of the dry riverbed of the Capibaribe Basin. The maximum sorption rate was 81.81 mg kg-1 and 21.7 mg kg-1 for the loamy sand and sand layers, respectively. The Pseudo-second order kinetic model described more appropriately the sorption kinetics for both soils. The isotherms behavior was nonlinear, and Freundlich model was the most suitable to describe this process for both soils, presenting KF values of 8.6407 L kg-1 for loamy sand and 0.1868 L kg-1 for sand. The isotherm parameters confirm a more significant interaction of RB5 with the loamy sand layer than with the sand layer, indicating lower leaching in the first layer, which is less mobile for RB5 contamination. Furthermore, the different sorption rates for both soils indicate the importance of studying the soil as a heterogeneous profile.