EVALUATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF EGGSHELL ASH AS PHOTOCATALYST FOR DECOLOURISATION OF AZO DYE USING SOLAR UTRA-VIOLET RADIATION

Water pollution is one of the environmental challenges to be surmounted avoid global public health hazard. Due complex chemical structure, azo dyes in industrial effluent have a long shelf life and are toxic aquatic creatures even at low quantities. In this study, decolourisation dye, methylene blue (MB) using locally sourced photocatalyst, eggshell ash (ESA) under solar ultra-violet (UV) radiation was investigated. order test photo-activities ESA, similar study performed without sunlight. ESA characterised Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Maximum efficiencies (96% with sunlight 77% sunlight) were recorded contact time 120 minutes 1.5 g/dm3 catalyst. The data obtained fitted into kinetics models adsorption isotherms. According findings, pseudo-second model best described process rate constant 0.1529 g/mg.min regression value, R2 0.9934. Intra-particle diffusion showed that uptake MB more film than intra-particle diffusion. isotherm better Langmuir capacity 0.0213 dm3/mg 0.9957, while Temkin indicates physical as heat sorption value (0.0015 Kcal./mol.) less 1.0 kcal/mol. Generally, revealed suitable photocatalyst for UV rays.