Mathematical Modeling of Fixed-Bed Columns Adsorption: Hexavalent Chromium onto Chitosan Flakes

• Published in: Industrial & engineering chemistry research 2020-08, Vol.59 (34), p.15378-15386
• Main Authors: Dima, Jimena B, Ferrari, Mariano, Zaritzky, Noemi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: General Research
• ISSN: 0888-5885; 1520-5045
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.0c02004

Continuous fixed-bed column adsorption for wastewater treatment provides the most practical application to reduce water pollution by heavy metal ions. The objective of this work was to develop a new statistical approach capable of simulating the dynamic behavior of the fixed-bed adsorption. A statistical model (normal model), based on normal distributions, was deduced and experimentally validated in a Bayesian framework. The model was applied to describe the adsorption mechanism of Cr­(VI) onto chitosan flakes, obtained from the waste of crustacean industry. The continuous flow of Cr­(VI) was carried out in a glass column, at different operating conditions, determining the breakthrough curve and the breakthrough point time (tb). The proposed normal model provided a good description of the column adsorption with fitting error comparable to that of the widely used Bohart-Adams logistic model. In all cases, the tb was into or near to model credibility interval. Therefore, the model with the Bayesian approach represents a good option for the design of adsorption columns for wastewater treatment.