Advanced reverse micellar extraction: a high-efficiency approach for sustainable removal of Xylenol Orange from wastewater
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Aniruddha Pal
Aniruddha Pal has passed his MSc (Chemistry) from The University of Burdwan and is currently working under the supervision of Prof. Bidyut Saha in the Department of Chemistry at The University Burdwan, WB, India. His research interest is focused in colloidal chemistry.
Kripasindhu Karmakar has passed his MSc (Chemistry) from Pondicherry University and is currently working under the supervision of Prof. Bidyut Saha in the Department of Chemistry at The University Burdwan, WB, India. His research interest is focused in colloidal chemistry.
Sk Mehebub Rahaman has completed his MSc (Chemistry) from The University of Burdwan in 2019. He is currently working as SRF under the supervision of Prof. Bidyut Saha in the Department of Chemistry at The University of Burdwan, WB, India. His research interest is focused in colloidal chemistry.
Arnab Patra has completed his MSc (Chemistry) from Kazi Nazrul University (Asansol, West Bengal, India) in 2020. He is currently working as a CSIR-JRF under the supervision of Prof. Bidyut Saha in the Department of Chemistry at The University Burdwan, West Bengal, India. His research interest is focused in colloidal chemistry.
Bidyut Saha is a Full Professor in the Department of Chemistry at The University of Burdwan, India. He obtained his PhD from Visva-Bharati University, India, in 2007. From 2009 to 2010, he was a visiting scientist at the Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada. He has been recognized among the World’s Top 2 % Scientists by Stanford University for the years 2023 and 2024 in the field of Chemical Physics. He is also a Fellow of The Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC, London). His research team focuses on the bioremediation of toxic metals, microemulsions, micellar catalysis, chemical kinetics, and metallogels. He currently serves as an Editor, Associate Editor, and Editorial Board Member for several reputed journals.
Abstract
This study presents an innovative and highly effective reverse micellar liquid-liquid extraction approach for the removal of the anionic dye Xylenol Orange (XO) from aqueous solutions. The extraction process was facilitated by the cationic surfactant cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), which formed reverse micelles in different organic solvents – toluene, m-xylene, hexane and cyclohexane – allowing selective encapsulation and separation of the dye by gravitational settling. Among the solvents tested, toluene exhibited the highest dye removal efficiency, demonstrating its superior ability to stabilise reverse micelles. Kinetic analysis revealed that the extraction process followed pseudo-first order kinetics with a rate constant of 0.016 min−1 and a half-life of 43.3 min. In addition, increasing the pH of the solution from 7 to 12 significantly improved the extraction efficiency, which was attributed to the increased anionic character of the dye, which improved its interaction with the cationic surfactant. This study highlights the potential of reverse micellar extraction as a highly efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional dye removal techniques. The method not only ensures high extraction efficiency with minimal sludge production, but also offers a promising strategy for industrial wastewater treatment.
Funding source: CSIR-UGC, India
About the authors
Aniruddha Pal has passed his MSc (Chemistry) from The University of Burdwan and is currently working under the supervision of Prof. Bidyut Saha in the Department of Chemistry at The University Burdwan, WB, India. His research interest is focused in colloidal chemistry.
Kripasindhu Karmakar has passed his MSc (Chemistry) from Pondicherry University and is currently working under the supervision of Prof. Bidyut Saha in the Department of Chemistry at The University Burdwan, WB, India. His research interest is focused in colloidal chemistry.
Sk Mehebub Rahaman has completed his MSc (Chemistry) from The University of Burdwan in 2019. He is currently working as SRF under the supervision of Prof. Bidyut Saha in the Department of Chemistry at The University of Burdwan, WB, India. His research interest is focused in colloidal chemistry.
Arnab Patra has completed his MSc (Chemistry) from Kazi Nazrul University (Asansol, West Bengal, India) in 2020. He is currently working as a CSIR-JRF under the supervision of Prof. Bidyut Saha in the Department of Chemistry at The University Burdwan, West Bengal, India. His research interest is focused in colloidal chemistry.
Bidyut Saha is a Full Professor in the Department of Chemistry at The University of Burdwan, India. He obtained his PhD from Visva-Bharati University, India, in 2007. From 2009 to 2010, he was a visiting scientist at the Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada. He has been recognized among the World’s Top 2 % Scientists by Stanford University for the years 2023 and 2024 in the field of Chemical Physics. He is also a Fellow of The Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC, London). His research team focuses on the bioremediation of toxic metals, microemulsions, micellar catalysis, chemical kinetics, and metallogels. He currently serves as an Editor, Associate Editor, and Editorial Board Member for several reputed journals.
Acknowledgments
A.P. acknowledges govt. of India for providing the CSIR-UGC Fellowship.
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Research ethics: Not applicable.
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Informed consent: Not applicable.
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Author contributions: A.P. and K.K. prepared the main manuscript. A.P., S.M.R., A. Patra prepared the figures and tables. R.S. and K.K. revised the manuscript. B.S. provided the concept of preparing of the manuscript and revised the manuscript.
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Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
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Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
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Research funding: CSIR-UGC Fellowship.
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Data availability: Data will be available on request.
Abbreviations used
- CMC
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critical micelle concentration
- CPC
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N-cetylpyridinium chloride
- XO
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Xylenol Orange
- UV
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ultraviolet
- HP
-
horse power
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© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Discussion
- Introduction of a ‘short eco’ programme: new data and insights supporting the use of automatic dishwashing to reduce energy and water use in European households
- Contribution to the current debate on the optimisation of the real-life-efficiency of automatic domestic dishwashers by using short programs with ‘high-performance’ detergents
- Hard-Surface Cleaning
- Performance of vicinal diols ethoxylate containing double hydrophilic headgroups in metal cleaner formulations
- Physical Chemistry
- Study of influence of salt additives on the electrical percolation phenomenon in AOT reverse microemulsions
- Adsorption studies of non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 on slaked lime
- Novel Surfactants
- Double headed alkyl triazole glycosides – alternatives for APGs with increased hydrophilicity – part 2: biodegradability and toxicity investigation
- Synthesis and properties of osteopeptide derived surfactants
- Biosurfactants
- Luminescence biosensor design for toxicity assessment of heavy metals extracted from contaminated soils by biosurfactants
- Applications
- Advanced reverse micellar extraction: a high-efficiency approach for sustainable removal of Xylenol Orange from wastewater
- Synergistic application of air-foam flooding and corrosion inhibition technologies: mechanisms and performance evaluation in enhanced oil recovery systems
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Discussion
- Introduction of a ‘short eco’ programme: new data and insights supporting the use of automatic dishwashing to reduce energy and water use in European households
- Contribution to the current debate on the optimisation of the real-life-efficiency of automatic domestic dishwashers by using short programs with ‘high-performance’ detergents
- Hard-Surface Cleaning
- Performance of vicinal diols ethoxylate containing double hydrophilic headgroups in metal cleaner formulations
- Physical Chemistry
- Study of influence of salt additives on the electrical percolation phenomenon in AOT reverse microemulsions
- Adsorption studies of non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 on slaked lime
- Novel Surfactants
- Double headed alkyl triazole glycosides – alternatives for APGs with increased hydrophilicity – part 2: biodegradability and toxicity investigation
- Synthesis and properties of osteopeptide derived surfactants
- Biosurfactants
- Luminescence biosensor design for toxicity assessment of heavy metals extracted from contaminated soils by biosurfactants
- Applications
- Advanced reverse micellar extraction: a high-efficiency approach for sustainable removal of Xylenol Orange from wastewater
- Synergistic application of air-foam flooding and corrosion inhibition technologies: mechanisms and performance evaluation in enhanced oil recovery systems
