LAUSR

Abstract The interaction of reactive yellow 4 with Apatitic Tricalcium Phosphate (PTCa) has been investigated in aqueous medium to understand the mechanism of adsorption and explore the potentiality of this phosphate toward controlling pollution resulting from textile dyes. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis demonstrates that the adsorbent is composed of needle-like nanoparticles and the SAED pattern exhibits spotted sharp and continuous rings that evidence polycrystalline grains. X-ray diffraction results showed that, the crystallinity of the dye decreased after interaction with RY4 indicatating incorporation of the dye into the micropores and macropores of the adsorbent. The results of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicate that the adsorption is due to the electrostatic interaction between the – SO 3 - groups of dye and the surface of the Phosphate. The desorption efficiency was very high at about 99.4%. The presence of calcium ions favored the adsorption of the dye, while the phosphate ions inhibited it.