Water Purification from Heavy Metal Ions in a Packed Column

Abstract

The process of adsorption from water solutions containing ternary system of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Ni(II) ions in time-variable conditions in a packed column with lyophilized chitosan beads is considered. The system of partial differential equations describing the adsorption column, due to the assumption of a properly defined variable is transformed into a system of ordinary nonlinear equations which enables the identification of object parameters in simple experiments. Analytical solution of that system was possible due to the assumptions made regarding the equation describing sorption kinetics. Using experimental data, the effective diffusion coefficient D_eff and the sorption kinetic constants K in the real environment were identified. The sorption capacity q* was obtained in separate sorption equilibrium experiments. Using a mathematical model the influence of initial concentration and solution flow rate on the breakthrough curve was determined. The approach which is presented provides a new method for modeling of sorption in a packed column.

Keywords:

• adsorption column
• chitosan beads
• heavy metal ions
• mathematical modelling

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work was financed from the Polish National Science Center funds granted on the basis of the decision DEC-2011/01/B/ST8/07167.