Packed bed column investigation on hexavalent chromium adsorption using activated carbon prepared from Swietenia Mahogani fruit shells

Abstract

The removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by a novel Swietenia Mahogani fruit shell physically activated carbon (SMFS-PAC) was examined in a packed bed column study. The effects of significant parameters such as feed flow rate, bed depth, and initial Cr(VI) concentration were studied. Column data obtained at different conditions were described using the Thomas, Bed depth service time (BDST), Adams–Bohart, and Yoon–Nelson model in order to predict the breakthrough curves and to evaluate the model parameters of the packed bed column studies data. Among the models used, Thomas, BDST, and Yoon–Nelson model, respectively, fitted to the experimental data very well. The SMFS-PAC column study states the value of the good adsorption capacity for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution.

Keywords:

• Adsorption
• Hexavalent chromium
• Packed bed column
• Mathematical modeling
• Breakthrough curves

Acknowledgment

The authors are thankful to the Research Council for Engineering and Technology Programmes, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, India (grant number ETP/02/2014/KSCSTE) for financial support.