Use of used cigarette filters in removal of malachite green dye from wastewater

Used cigarette filters were inspected for malachite green removal from wastewater effluents. The equilibrium time, dye initial concentration, sorbent dose and solution pH were investigated. Adsorption kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamic were investigated. Moreover, because of the structure resemblance between fabrics and cigarette filters, the processes of fabrics colouring and dye removal by cigarette filters were found analogous. Consequently, it is suggested that sand ash-trays be placed in smoking areas to collect cigarette filters for dye removal. Further, it is recommended that the local fabric-colouring businesses use treated wastewater, of comparable quality to that used in this study as non-traditional water supply, in dyeing fabrics for better dye fixation and low dye exhaustion. The fact of an effective dye-uptake by used cigarette filters from waste effluents should not be interpreted as a justification for smoking tobacco, which causes serious health problems. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.