The textile industry process, especially in dyeing and finishing steps, requires a large volume of water. The elimination of these toxic products is currently one of the most important subjects in pollution control, which has led researchers to seek new techniques and more powerful tools to reduce or eliminate the toxicity of wastewater formed in its different processes, always taking into account efficiency, low costs and the laws and regulations aimed at environmental protection. In this study we evaluated the application of a clay waste in processes of wastewater treatment for removal of textile dyes. A study was conducted to characterize the adsorbent through the analysis of surface area and pore volume (BET), as well as the analysis of the presence of smectite group minerals (X-ray diffraction). The optimization of the adsorptive process through the technique of factorial design was used. The BET analysis showed that the heat treatment caused a reduction in the surface area of 13.3%. However caused an increase of 21.16% in the pore size. The analysis of X-ray diffractograms of the samples indicated in nature, therefore, the presence of mineral groups smectite, kaolinite and mica (illite). The mineral quartz participation (d001 = 3.35 Å) was also observed in all the minerals found in clay. With the help of factorial design for the two dyes, there was a significant influence in the process of variable mass, agitation speed and temperature. We obtained satisfactory results in the reduction of concentration by adsorption, being effective for the removal of acid dyes and reactive Nylosan Blue Indigo Blue Op
adsorption; dyes; clays
