Feasibility of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fish scales as biosorbents for dye removal

Abstract

Many dyes are used in many industries such as food, paper, carpets, rubbers, plastics, cosmetics and textiles in order to color their product. Dyes are difficult to degrade and could cause potential hazards to the water body and environment due to its complex structures. Biosorption has been found as an effective and eco-friendly technique.The potential of using Oreochromis niloticus (Nile Tilapia) fish scale as biosorbent of methylene blue dye removal was investigated. The scales were washed, sun dried, pulverized and sieved before exposed to the simulated wastewater. The effect of operational parameters such as contact time (180 minutes), temperature (30 and 50⁰C), and biosorbent dosages (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 g/100 ml) was studied in two different simulated wastewater which are from distilled water and industrial wastewater. The extent of dye removal decreased with increasing adsorbent dosage, increased with increasing contact time for both simulated wastewater and increased with decreasing temperature. The biosorption data followed Langmuir isotherm model. The highest removal was achieved at 30⁰C and 0.2g of biosorbent dosage. The results suggest that an eco-friendly, cost-efficient O. niloticus fish scales could be used as an effective biosorbent for the removal of methylene blue dye from simulated wastewater.