Preparation and characterization of films from Chicken feathers for dye adsorption

Abstract Chicken feathers were partially hydrolyzed using dilute alkaline solutions in presence of thiourea, then dithiocarbamylated by treatment with carbon disulphide. Product was blended with polyvinyl alcohol to cast into environmentally friendly films. These films were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron and atomic force microscopies, and differential scanning calorimetry. Adsorption studies were carried out in 10–30 mg/L concentration range of dyes at 281, 291, and 301 K and pH 4, 7, and 9. The adsorption mechanism was analysed by applying various kinetic and isotherm models. Maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 714.3 mg/g at 281 K for methylene blue and 555.6 mg/g at 301 K for crystal violet from aqueous solutions.