Removal of lead and copper ions onto granular activated carbon in batch and fixed bed a dsorber

Abstract EN

The adsorption of lead and copper ions onto granular activated carbon (DARCO 20-40 mesh) in a single component system has been studied using fixed bed adsorbers.

A film-pore diffusion model has been developed to predict the fixed bed breakthrough curves for the two metal ions.

This model takes account both external and internal mass transfer resistance as well as axial dispersion with non-linear isotherm.

The effects of flow rate, bed height and initial metal ion concentration has been studied.

Batch adsorber experiments were conducted to estimate the parameters required for fixed bed model, such as adsorption equilibrium isotherm constants the external mass transfer coefficient and pore diffusion coefficient by fitting the experimental data with theoretical model.

The batch isotherm experimental data was correlated using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models.

The adsorption isotherm data follow the Langmuir model better than Freundlich model.

The pore diffusion coefficient was obtained using pore diffusion model for batch adsorber by matching between the experimental data and predicted data from the model.

The results show that the filmpore diffusion model used for fixed bed adsorber provide a good description of the adsorption process for adsorption of metal ions Pb (II) and Cu (II) onto activated carbon in fixed bed adsorber.