BIOSORPTION OF BASIC-DYES BY WATER HYACINTH ROOTS

Laboratory investigations of the potential of the biomass of non-livin g, dried, roots of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) to remove two basic dyes, methylene blue and Victoria blue from aqueous solutions w ere conducted. Parameters studied included pH, sorbent dosage, contact time and initial concentrations. The Langmuir isotherm was found to r epresent the measured sorption data well. Maximum sorption capacities of water hyacinth roots for methylene blue and Victoria blue were 128. 9 and 145.4 mg/g respectively. Water hyacinth roots could represent a cheap source of biosorbent for basic dyes as they are readily availabl e in great abundance.