Assessing the Efficiency of Continuous Flow Column of Pine Fruit Powder in Removal of Chromium (VI) from Aqueous Solution

Abstract

The hexavalent chromium is one of the toxic and soluble heavy metals, which is absorbed and stored in human body through the digestive system and skin. Therefore, the aim of this study was to adsorb the hexavalent chromium from aqueous media using continuous flow fixed bed of pine fruit. The adsorbent was prepared in laboratory scale and pulverized by standard ASTM sieve (100 mesh). Stock solution of chromium was prepared using potassium dichromate and the unknown concentration of hexavalent chromium was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. In order to study the behavior of the sorbent in the fixed-bed column, we used glass column with the length of 25 cm and diameter of 2.5 cm. The effect of initial concentration of chromium and flow rate were examined. Test results showed that the maximum uptake of Cr(VI) obtained was 38.748 mg/g in a flow rate of 12 ml/min and initial concentration of 0.11 mg/l. According to the obtained results, the total amount of chromium absorbed and the adsorption capacity of the column decreased by increasing the concentration of initial chromium concentration. The maximum adsorption of Cr(VI) using the pine fruit powder achieved at flowrate of 4 ml/min and initial concentration of adsorbent of 0.15 mg/l. our findings confirms the capability of pine fruit powder application as an effective and cheap method for the removal of Cr(VI) from polluted effluents.

Keywords

• pine fruit powder
• continuous flow
• absorption
• hexavalent chromium