Archive / Volume LXXVIII 2025

Anton HOLOVATIUK, Lidiya BOICHYSHYN

KINETICS OF DEGRADATION OF AZO DYE BRILLIANT BLACK E151 IN ALKALINE MEDIUM WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF AMORPHOUS ALLOY Al86Ni6Co2Gd6

The present study elucidates the kinetics and mechanism of alkaline degradation of the azo dye Brilliant Black E151 in the presence of a series of amorphous metallic alloys (AMCs), with particular emphasis on the alloy Al86Ni6Co2Gd6. Batch experiments were carried out in aqueous solution at pH ≈ 13, a condition that was found to accelerate chromophore destruction far more efficiently than neutral or acidic media. UV-vis spectroscopy revealed a rapid decline of the principal absorption band at 560 nm – from 0.43 to 0.22 a.u. –within the first hour, whereas the same band decreased only marginally under neutral or acidic conditions.
Among more than a dozen tested AMCs, Al₈₆Ni₆Co₂Gd₆ emerged as the most active material, achieving 95.5 % decolorization after 72 h without the need for external oxidants such as H₂O₂. Time-resolved UV-vis spectra indicated two distinct kinetic domains. In the short-time interval (20–90 min) the reaction followed apparent pseudo-first-order kinetics with a half-life t1/2 = 27.6 h, consistent with a fixed, catalyst-rich phase in large excess. A transient increase and subsequent decay of the 390 nm band pointed to the formation of phenolic and amino-substituted azobenzene intermediates. At longer times (240–4320 min) the rate law shifted toward second order, reflecting progressive depletion of reactive aluminium sites and increasing diffusion control.
Scanning-electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy provided complementary evidence for the proposed mechanism. After 72 h contact with dye solution, the alloy surface exhibited a porous oxide–carbon film; aluminium content dropped from 86.1 at % to 7.9 at %, while oxygen and carbon rose to 45.9 and 19.7 at %, respectively. In contrast, Ni, Co and Gd were largely retained in the near-surface region, where they are thought to promote micro-galvanic interactions that sustain catalytic activity once aluminium is partially exhausted.
The study demonstrates that Al-based AMCs, and Al86Ni6Co2Gd6 in particular, can serve as highly effective, peroxide-free catalysts for the removal of recalcitrant azo dyes from wastewater. The findings highlight the dual role of aluminium as a sacrificial reductant and scaffold for a mixed oxide layer, while the remaining transition and rare-earth elements stabilise and extend catalytic performance. Future work will focus on optimizing alloy surface area and evaluating temperature effects to pave the way for scalable, environmentally benign treatment technologies.

Keywords: Brilliant Black E151; azo dye degradation; aluminium-based amorphous alloy; Al₈₆Ni₆Co₂Gd₆; kinetic analysis; SEM/EDX surface analysis; wastewater treatment.

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How to Cite

HOLOVATIUK A., BOICHYSHYN L. KINETICS OF DEGRADATION OF AZO DYE BRILLIANT BLACK E151 IN ALKALINE MEDIUM WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF AMORPHOUS ALLOY Al86Ni6Co2Gd6. Proc. Shevchenko Sci. Soc. Chem. Sci. 2025. Vol. 78. P. 44-56.