Data article for adsorption of chemically activated fuller׳s earth and rice husk for removal of dri-marine reactive red dye

Dyes are most commonly used in textile industries for colouring clothes. After colouring, dri-marine reactive red dye is drained into lakes and rivers, which is very hazardous for aquatic as well as human life. The treatment of this dye solution is necessary to make it clear before it is drained into river. For the treatment of this dye solution one of the cheapest and easy method is adsorption of dye with the natural adsorbents i.e. fuller׳s earth and rice husk. Data presented here focuses to improve the textural characteristics of both the adsorbents through chemical treatment. Selected chemicals for adsorbents treatment are acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate, both chemicals are very cheap, non-hazardous and never used before. Emphasis in this data article is to develop the easy and cost-effective method for removal of dri-marine reactive red dye.


Subject area
Chemical Engineering, Textile Engineering More specific subject area Adsorption, Importance of surface morphology in adsorption process for dye removal Type of data

Value of the data
The novel data was generated from dri-marine red reactive dye removal using naturally occurring cheaper adsorbents.
Textile waste water is the major source of contamination of water resources in Pakistan and its treatment costs thousands of dollars which is unaffordable for local investors. Therefore, this research is beneficial for local industrialists.
This data will be eye catching for the researchers in the field of adsorption and waste water treatment. This data will be helpful for scientists to develop new techniques of removing hazardous contaminants from waste water.

Data
Data reported here describes the pre-treatment of naturally occurring adsorbents which are fuller's earth and rice husk. Textural characteristics of both adsorbents are improved by treating with non-hazardous chemicals (acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate). Data files included here are images of scanning electron microscope (SEM) for surface analysis Ultra-Violet (UV) Spectrometer for calculating the efficiency and percentages of dye removal at different solution concentrations. Performance curves and comparative analysis for both adsorbents are studied using software tools like MATLAB and Excel. Figs. 1-6 show surface morphology of fuller's earth and rice husk before and after its chemical activation.

Data generation for surface morphology through SEM imaging
Rough surface of fuller's earth was changed entirely by acetic acid. Bead appearance of fuller's earth shows greater modifications in structure. Sodium bicarbonate changes its texture with pellet  like appearance showing less modifications than acetic acid. However, surface texture of rice husk is modified in a different way by acetic acid as compared to sodium bicarbonate. Blister like structure of rice husk became smooth by acetic acid while sodium bicarbonate enhanced the blister appearance of rice husk. The change in textural characteristics of both the adsorbents is due to removal of metals which make them porous and rough.      Table 1 and Fig. 7 here.  Table 2 and Fig. 8 here.    Table 3 and Fig. 9 here.

Materials
Dri-marine Red Reactive dye, acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate were purchased from Sigma-Merck(Germany). Fuller's earth and rice husk were purchased from local market.

Adsorbent preparation
Fuller's earth and rice husk are activated with acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate [2][3][4][5][6]. 20 g of powdered fuller's earth was dissolved in 200 ml of acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate. The same procedure was performed with rice husk. 72 h residence time was given to all the solutions. After the residence time is completed, solutions were filtered with Whatman s filter paper [7][8][9][10]. Solid filtrate of all solutions was dried separately and stored.

Stock solution preparation
Stock solution is a concentrated solution that will be diluted to some lower concentration for actual use. Purpose of stock solution is to save preparation time and conserve materials. Stock solution is prepared by adding 0.2 g "dri-marine reactive red" dye and 2 g of sodium carbonate in 200 ml of water. pH of the solution should be 8.5. This solution has concentration value of 1000 ppm i.e. 1000 g dye per liter of solution.

Treatment
100 ml of stock solution is collected separately and then 100 ml distilled water is added. Concentration value of stock solution is now reduced to 500 ppm from 1000 ppm. Same procedure is repeated by collecting 100 ml sample from 500 ppm stock solution and 100 ml of distilled water is added in it, the concentration value is decreased to 250 ppm. Through the same procedure, stock solution with concentration values of 1000 ppm, 500 ppm, 250 ppm, 125 ppm, 62.5 ppm, 31.25 ppm are made respectively. Now these samples are treated by adsorbents by adding 1 g of activated adsorbents in 20 ml volume of each sample with a residence time of 24 h. One sample of each concentration was saved and stored as standard for comparison. After completion of residence time the sample solutions were filtered.