Multimodal sorption of nonionic dyes with two amino groups by various polymers from water

Sorption isotherms of nonionic dyes with two amino groups (one anthraquinone dye and two azo dyes) on various polymers from water were measured at 40–90°C (Nylon-6 and cellulose film) and at 95°C (polyester microfiber). The isotherms were curved, convex to upward, in the range of low dye concentration C_s in water and almost linear in the range of medium to saturated C_s. The isotherms measured at low temperature (40°C for cellulose, 40–60°C for Nylon-6, and at 95°C for polyester) were satisfactorily described by considering three concurrent modes of sorption. They are Nernst type partitioning and bimodal Langmuir sorption (sorption by the higher affinity sites with a small saturation value and that by the lower affinity sites with a large saturation value). However, for the sorption of the anthraquinone dye and one azo dye by Nylon-6 film at high temperature (80–90°C), the amount of dye sorbed by the high affinity site decreased to negligibly small. Accordingly, the isotherms were expressed well by simple dual-sorption model. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.