Numerical simulation of the adsorption process of copper for phosphoric acid purification

Abstract

In this paper, a numerical study of the adsorption phenomenon of copper present in phosphoric acid is presented. The process is carried out batch wise using dates stones and activated carbon as solid supports. The governing equations for the adsorption phenomenon were discretisized by finite differences method using the explicit scheme where the conditions of stability are ensured. A computing code was developed to determine all the structures of diffusion of heavy metals solutions into the pores of adsorption particles. In order to assess the code reliability, the obtained results were compared to the values reported in the literature and a maximum deviation of 1.49% was shown. The application of the computing code for the case of the adsorption of copper onto the two considered solid supports and using the obtained experimental data enabled the calculation of the superficial intraparticle diffusion coefficient D _s, as well as the mass transfer coefficient K _f.

Keywords:

• Superficial diffusion
• Mass transfer coefficient
• Adsorption
• Cations
• Dates stones
• Activated carbon

Notes

Presented at the International Conference on Desalination for the Environment, Clean Water and Energy, European Desalination Society, 23–26 April 2012, Barcelona, Spain