Modeling of Breakthrough Curves for Removal of Chromium from Waste Water

Abstract

The development in technology and industrial activities has lead to release of various metal ions to the environment. The present study aims to assess the efficiency of Rice Husk in treating chromium (VI) from simulated wastewater, with the help of fixed-bed adsorption column by performing continuous adsorption experiment. The results obtained through this study were confirmed by developing a model. A detailed analysis on the effects of extensive parameters on the adsorption experiment was done. The extensive parameters considered were Concentration, Flow-rate, and Bed-height. It was observed that as flowrate decreased from 60 ml/min to 30ml/min, the breakthrough time also decreased from 30 to 20 min. whereas as when the concentration was increased from 250 mg/L to 1000 mg/, the breakthrough time came down to 10 min fro m 40 min. The parameters which were calculated were total percentage removal of Cr (VI) and breakthrough time. It was observed that the exhaustion time decreases with increase in the concentration and flow rate and it increases with bed height. The data obtained during the entire experiment were fitted in Thomas and Yoon Nelson Model. The values of the model parameters were evaluated and analyzed.