Cr(VI) biosorption: Effect of temperature, particle size and bed height

Abstract

The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of temperature, particle size and bed height of the chromium (VI) adsorption process using plantain peels in a continuous system. The experiment was carried out on a packed bed column, adjusting the feed temperature of the solution with a REX-C100 controller coupled to a type K thermocouple. The initial concentration of Cr (VI) was set at 100 ppm, the pH at 2 and the feed rate of 0.75 mL/s. The analyses were performed by UV-Vis spectroscopy using the colourimetric method of 1.5-diphenylcarbazide. The material was characterized by infrared spectrometry by Fourier Transforms (FTIR), from this analysis, it was determined that the OH and NH2 functional groups are the main responsible for the formation of complexes with the cations in solution. Also, it was established that only the particle size is statistically significant. According to the response surface analysis, the optimum conditions of the process were 353.15 K, a particle size of 0.819 mm and a bed height of 67.768 mm. From the thermodynamic study of the process, it is established that it is endothermic and the chemical adsorption prevails in it. The results obtained in the process modelling suggest that Dose-Response can be used reliably to scale the process.