Coal fly ashes treated by hydrothermal method were used as low-cost adsorbent for the removal of metals ions and dye from aqueous solution. The adsorption isotherms of the treated fly ashes were studied and results were fitted using Langmuir and Freundlich models. It shows that the Freundlich isotherm is better in describing the adsorption process for methylene blue. The equilibrium data for zinc and cadmium ions adsorption well fitted to the Langmuir equation. The maximum adsorption capacity value obtained was 0.78 (mg g-1)(L mg)1/n for methylene blue, 38.05 mg g-1 for Zn2+ and 67.48 mg g-1 for Cd2+. The synthesized materials exhibit much higher adsorption capacities than raw fly ashes. The study showed that the zeolitic material can effectively adsorb methylene blue and metals ions with removal efficiencies ranging from 82-99%.
zeolitic material; adsorption; coal fly ash
