Parametric Sensitivity Analysis of Chromium (vi) Adsorption Using Theobroma Cacao L Biomass via Process Simulation

Abstract

Although several advances in heavy metal adsorption using biomass are being developed at lab scale, there is a lack of information regarding the behaviour of these emerging technologies from the technical point of view at higher scales, Theobroma cacao residues had shown a good performance towards Chromium (VI). Subsequently, this study was conducted to develop the parametric sensitivity analysis of Cr (VI) removal from aqueous solution onto an adsorbent based on cocoa husk, using Aspen Adsorption® V10 software based on data from batch experiments. A dynamic column performance was evaluated systematically while varying in three levels the feed flow (0.75, 1.5 and 3 mL/s), initial concentration (10,30, 50 and 100 mg/L), bed height (30, 65 and 100 cm) and particle diameter (0.5, 1 and 2 mm) and their effect over the breakthrough curve. The simulated parameters showed great sensitivity towards bed height and inlet flows in the performance of the column be delaying or shorting the breakthrough time.