Phenomenological modeling of reactive dye adsorption onto fish scales surface in the presence of electrolyte and surfactant mixtures.

The aim of this work was an experimental and theoretical investigation of the influence of electrolyte (NaCl) and surfactant (SP), as textile auxiliary agents (TAAs), onto reactive blue 5G (RB5G) dye removal by applying untreated fish scales (FS) in batch system. Kinetic and equilibrium studies were performed, aiming at the comprehension of the mass transfer mechanisms through phenomenological modeling. The biosorbent was texturally characterized, to investigate the adsorbent's characteristics and to support the models' assumptions. Hence, a 'physically meaningful' modeling to assess different systems containing dye-TAA mixtures was employed. The experimental results indicated that despite the FS nonporous characteristics, it showed remarkable adsorption capacities (≈291 mg g-1), which may be ascribed to the adsorbent-adsorbate affinity and to dye-aggregates adsorption onto the FS surface. Those results evidence a potential use of FS as an alternative biosorbent material. The mathematical model was able to identify the rate-limiting step of the process; to predict the adsorption kinetics and equilibrium condition, comprising the description of aggregates formation; and to successfully predict kinetic behavior of independent data in simulated real effluent. Those results indicate that the model can be used to simulate operating conditions and, therefore, support the design, optimization, and scale-up of adsorption processes.

Sorption kinetics and equilibrium for the removal of nickel ions from aqueous phase on calcined Bofe bentonite clay.

In this paper the kinetics and dynamics of nickel adsorption on calcined Bofe bentonite clay were studied. The clay was characterized through EDX, surface area (BET) and XRD analysis. The influence of parameters (pH, amount of adsorbent, adsorbate concentration and temperature) was investigated. Kinetic models were evaluated in order to identify potential adsorption process mechanisms. The Langmuir and Freundlich models were utilized for the analysis of adsorption equilibrium. Thermodynamic parameters were assessed as a function of the process temperature. The kinetics data were better represented by the second-order model. The process was found to be strongly influenced by the factors studied. The Bofe clay removed nickel with maximum adsorption capacity of 1.91 mg metal/g of clay (20 degrees C; pH 5.3) and that the thermodynamic data indicated that the adsorption reaction is spontaneous and of an exothermal nature. The Langmuir model provided the best fit for sorption isotherms.

Removal of nickel on Bofe bentonite calcined clay in porous bed.

Bentonite clays have been showing good adsorbing characteristics and are used as an alternative material in the removal of heavy metals. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the removal of nickel on Bofe bentonite calcined clay in porous bed. Firstly, a study was conducted to define the operation outflow, based on the minimum mass transfer zone (MTZ) obtained, useful (q(U)) and total adsorbed (q(T)) removal amounts and total nickel removal percentage (Rem (%)). Assays of nickel adsorption on clay were conducted according to a 2(2) factorial design with three central points to evaluate the effect of the particle diameter and initial adsorbate concentration on variables q(U), q(T) and Rem (%). Tests to obtain the adsorbent physical and chemical characteristics were performed on samples of Bofe clay in natura, calcined, and calcined submitted to nickel adsorption. This clay was characterized according to the following techniques: Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Thermogravimetry (TG), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Physisorption of N(2) (BET), Helium Picnometry and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with metal mapping.

Biosorption of chromium(VI) using a Sargassum sp. packed-bed column.

Chromium(VI) is present in several industrial wastewaters and it can cause health and environmental hazards above certain concentrations. Equilibrium studies have shown the feasibility of using Sargassum sp. algae for chromium removal from aqueous solutions by biosorption. However, for the design and operation of chromium biosorption processes, dynamic flow studies are required. The objective of the study was to examine chromium(VI) removal from an aqueous solution using a packed-bed column with Sargassum sp. algae as a biosorbent. The dynamic behavior of the biosorption column was investigated through experiments and the influence of operating conditions, such as initial chromium concentration, flow rate and amount of biosorbent, on the column removal capacity have been analyzed using the factorial design methodology. The capacity of removal obtained at optimum conditions was 19.06 mg of metal/g biosorbent.

Nickel, lead and zinc removal by adsorption process in fluidised bed.

This work presents an experimental study of nickel (II), lead (II) and zinc (II) metallic ions removal by adsorption in zeolite Baylith WE984. The experiments were conducted in a fluidised-bed rig with 300 grams of zeolite particles having diameter in the range 1 - 4mm. The volumetric flow rate of the fluidizing solution was 4.1 lmin(-1). Metal concentrations in the solution were measured by atomic absorption and the breakthrough curves were obtained for concentrations of metals ranging from 5 to 30 ppm (pH= 2). Experimental results obtained were fitted to the Renken model for analysis of the mass transfer resistance and the kinetic of adsorption. It was verified that the kinetic of adsorption was the limiting factor for the metallic ion retention in fluidised bed. Competitiveness of the metals adsorbed into Baylith zeolite were also analyzed being found the following order of preference for the metal removals: nickel > zinc > lead. The competitiveness was evaluated simultaneously in the combination of 2 x 2 and the three metals.