Column studies on sorption of Cr (VI) from aqueous and electroplating wastewater using acid-treated marine brown algae Sargassum myriocystum

ABSTRACT

In this study, enhancement of Cr (VI) sorption capacity of acid-treated Sargassum myriocystum algal biomass in a packed-bed adsorption column was investigated. Metal solution having pH 5.2, Temperature 308.15 K, and initial concentration of 100 mg/L is pumped upward through the column at a preferred flow rate. Sorption of metal is studied at various bed heights and flow rates. The height of bed is varied from 5.0 cm to 25.0 cm and observed that highest height of bed (25.0 cm) removes maximum amount of metal. Flow rate effect is also studied by changing the rate of flow range from 10.0 to 20.0 mL/min. It is observed that removal efficiency is higher at 10.0 mL/min. Continuous experimental data are fitted using bed depth service time (BDST), Thomas, Adams–Bohart, Yoon–Nelson and Clark model, and high correlation coefficient values confirm the validity of the models. Sorption of Cr (VI) using acid-treated Sargassum myriocystum is obtained in the form of breakthrough curves (C/Co vs. t). The percentage removal and uptake capacity for aqueous and electroplating wastewater were found to be 53.57% and 31.57 mg/g, 31.93% and 16.8 mg/g, respectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Cr (VI)
• brown algae
• aqueous
• electroplating wastewater
• BDST
• Thomas
• Adams–Bohart
• Yoon–Nelson and Clark

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jayakumar R

Jayakumar R. was born in India in 1979. He received the B.E (Chemical), M.Tech (Industrial Biotechnology) and Ph.D in Chemical Engineering from Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India in 2000, 2009, and 2016, respectively. He joined in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India in 2006. Where he is currently an Assistant Professor. His main areas of research interest are Sorption of heavy metals from aqueous and industrial effluent using marine algae. He is a Life member of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (India).

Rajasimman M

Rajasimman M. is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Annamalai University, Annamalai nagar, India. His research field is inverse fluidization, environmental engineering and environmental biotechnology. He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Annamalai University, in 2007. He joined in the Department of Chemical Engineering in 1998. So far, he has published more than 100 papers in various peer reviewed journals. He received Best Young Researcher award from the Annamalai University in the year 2017 and 2018

Karthikeyan C

Karthikeyan C. is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, India. His research field is Environmental engineering and environmental biotechnology. He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Annamalai University, in 2001. He joined in the Department of Chemical Engineering in 1991. He is a Life member of IIChE and ISTE. He served as Vice president in the IIChE National Council during the year 2018.