Adsorption of xanthene food additive dyes to cellulose granules

It was found that three kinds of the synthetic food additive dyes, red nr. 3 (erythrosine), nr. 104 (phloxine), and nr. 105 (rose bengal) were adsorbed to the surface of charred cellulose granules and the maximum amounts of adsorption of these dyes were 3.75, 3.42, and 4.74 mg/g cellulose, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy-electron probe micro analysis (SEM-EPMA) showed a coating of the dyes on the surface of charred cellulose granules. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) suggested the presence of NH₃ ⁺ in the surface of charred cellulose granules. Since all three dye compounds have both anionic carboxylate and hydrophobic groups and were released from the surface of charred cellulose granules by 0.1 N NaOH solution, it was surmised that these three food additive dyes were bound to the surface of cellulose granules by both ionic and physical interactions.