Adsorption of Dyes Using Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and PVA-Based Polymer Composite Adsorbents: A Review

In recent years, polymeric adsorbent is gaining more interest over classical adsorbents such as clays and activated carbon due to its tunable physicochemical properties, structural diversity, reusability and selectivity. Therefore, the aim of this article is to summarize the available information on the adsorption studies of dyes using PVA and PVA-based polymer composite adsorbents. These materials were reviewed with emphasis on the experimental parameters (initial dye concentration, pH, adsorbent dosage etc.) and outcomes of the various adsorption studies were discussed. Furthermore, the isotherm models, kinetic and thermodynamic of the adsorption studies involved were also summarized. This review outlines the rationale for using the PVA-based composite adsorbents which have demonstrated good removal efficiency for several dyes. Future perspectives of the research work are also being suggested.