Simulations of breakthrough curves for fixed-bed column adsorption of heavy metals on spent tealeaves.
Abstract
The objective of this study is to model the breakthrough curve for fixed-bed adsorption column experiments using spent tealeaves. In the present study, spent tealeaves such as green, peppermint and chamomile were packed in glass columns with diameters 2 cm and height of 15 cm, and used as adsorbents for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution. Experimental aqueous solutions of copper (II) (100 mg/l) were prepared and pumped against gravity through the columns at a uniform flow rate of 5 ml/min at 6 pH. Samples of the effluent of the column experiment were collected every minute. The residual metal ion concentration of the samples were measured using color spectroscopy, and breakthrough curves were fitted for the residual concentration data using Thomas, Yoon-Nelson, and Clark kinetic models. These mathematical models were linearized using the natural logarithm for parameter estimation. All the three model simulations fitted the experimental data well. The results also revealed that the peppermint had longer adsorption breakthrough time than green and chamomile tealeaves. The study implies that using spent tealeaves as heavy metal adsorbents is ecofriendly as well as environmentally beneficial.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFM.H43E2455T
- Keywords:
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- 1804 Catchment;
- HYDROLOGYDE: 1834 Human impacts;
- HYDROLOGYDE: 1880 Water management;
- HYDROLOGYDE: 1899 General or miscellaneous;
- HYDROLOGY