Cu adsorption in fixed bed column with three different influent concentration

¹ Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, Chaoyang University of Technology, 41349 Taichung, Taiwan.
² Department of Environmental Engineering, Ilan University, 26047 Ilan, Taiwan.
³ Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan.

^* Corresponding author: hmlo@cyut.edu.tw

Abstract

Heavy metals from the electroplating wastewater might cause environmental pollution if not well treated. Generally, carbon adsorption might be used for the final step for further trace metals removal. This study investigated the heavy metal Cu adsorption in the fixed bed column with 1, 10 and 100 mg/L influent concentration. Results showed that K_AB decreased as influent Cu concentration increased from 1 to 100 mg/L while N₀ increased as influent concentration increased from 1 to 100 mg/L as can be found in Adams-Bohart model. R² was found between 0.8579 and 0.9182. In Thomas model. K_TH and q₀ showed the similar trend as K_AB and N₀ in the Adams-Bohart model. K_TH decreased as influent Cu concentration increased from 1 to 100 mg/L. q₀ increased as influent Cu concentration increased from 1 to 100 mg/L. R² of regression model was found between 0.9065 and 0.9836. In Yoon-Nelson model. K_YN increased as influent Cu concentration increased from 1 to 100 mg/L while τ decreased as influent Cu concentration increased from 1 to 100 mg/L. Results showed that the three models of Adams-Bohart model, Thmoas model and The Yoon-Nelson model were suitable for the description of Cu adsorption by activated carbon.