Packed bed column studies for the removal of dyes using novel sorbent

Abstract

A continuous fixed bed study was carried out by using tamarind seed as a sorbent for the removal of malachite green (MG) and acid blue 9(AB9) from aqueous solution. The effect of factors, such as flow rate and bed depth was studied. Data confirmed that the breakthrough curves were dependent on flow rate and bed depth. Thomas, Adams-Bohart, and Yoon-Nelson models were applied to experimental data to predict the breakthrough curves using non-linear regression and to determine the characteristic parameters of the packed bed column. Bed depth/service time analysis (BDST) model was used to express the effect of bed depth on breakthrough curves. The results showed that Thomas model was found suitable for the normal description of breakthrough curve at the experimental condition, while Adams-Bohart and Yoon-Nelson model were able to explain only the initial part of dynamic behaviour of the tamarind seed column. The data were in good agreement with BDST model. It was concluded that the tamarind seed can be effectively used as a sorbent for the removal of dyes.

Keywords

• tamarind seed
• malachite green
• acid blue 9
• sorption
• packed bed
• breakthrough curve