Cadmium(II) sorption and desorption in a fixed bed column using sunflower waste carbon calcium–alginate beads

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2013-02, Vol.129, p.242-248
• Main Authors: Jain, Monika, Garg, V.K., Kadirvelu, K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; Agriculture - instrumentation; Alginates - chemistry; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Bohart–Adams model; Breakthrough curve; Cadmium; Cadmium - chemistry; Cadmium - isolation & purification; carbon; Carbon - chemistry; desorption; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure Analysis; Exact sciences and technology; Fixed – bed column mode; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glucuronic Acid - chemistry; Helianthus - chemistry; Helianthus annuus; Hexuronic Acids - chemistry; Industrial Waste - prevention & control; Pollution; Ultrafiltration - instrumentation; Waste Water - chemistry; Wastes; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical - isolation & purification; Water Purification - instrumentation
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.11.036

► We studied removal of cadmium from wastewater by column mode by a new adsorbent. ► Sunflower plant biomass has been converted into calcium–alginate beads. ► The metal removal is dependent on bed height, flow rate and metal concentration. ► The column can be used for three cycles. The present study reports the use of sunflower waste carbon calcium–alginate beads (SWC-CAB) for cadmium removal from wastewater in continuous flow fixed bed columns. The experiments were conducted as a function of bed height, flow rate and initial Cd(II) concentration. The maximum biosorption capacity (23.6mg/g) was attained at 30cm bed height, 1.0mL/min flow rate and 10mg/L initial Cd(II) concentration. The Bohart – Adams model constants (N0 and K) were 7.7mg/L and 1×10−4L/mgh with 0.999 R2 value at 50% breakthrough time. The column regeneration efficiency after third cycle was 58.6% for cadmium.