Application of the BDST model for nickel removal from effluents by ion exchange

The effect of pH on the equilibrium ion exchange capacity of nickel using an imino diacetate ion exchange resin has been studied to determine the pH for optimum metal uptake. A series of fixed bed ion exchange studies have been carried out using the resin to remove nickel from water and the effect of a number of process variables, including initial nickel ion concentration, resin particle size and effluent solution flowrate, have been studied. The Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) model has been applied to the experimental date with only limited predictive success and subsequently a modified “BDST” model has been successfully applied to the data to model the system.