Removal of nickel(II) ions from aqueous solution by biosorption in a fixed bed column: Experimental and theoretical breakthrough curves

The nickel(II) ions biosorption process by marine algae Sargassum filipendula in a fixed bed column was investigated for the following experimental conditions: temperature = 30 °C and pH 3.0. The experimental breakthrough curves were obtained for the following chosen flow rates 0.002, 0.004, 0.006, and 0.008 L/min. A mathematical model was developed to describe the nickel ion sorption in a fixed bed column. The model of three partial differential equations (PDE) has considered the hydrodynamics throughout the fixed bed column as well as the sorption process in the liquid and solid phases. The internal and external mass transfer limitations were considered, as well. The nickel ion sorption kinetics has been studied utilizing the Langmuir isotherm. The PDE of the system were discretized in the form of ordinary differential equations (ODE) and were solved for the given initial and boundary conditions using the finite volume method. A new correlation for external mass transfer coefficient was developed. Some of the model parameters were experimentally determined ( ɛ, d p) where the others such as ( K F, K S) were evaluated on the base of experimental data parameters. The identification procedure was based on the least square statistical method. The robustness and flexibility of the developed model was checked out using four sets of experimental data and the predictive power of the model was evaluated to be good enough for the all studied cases. The developed model can be useful tool for nickel ion removal process optimization and design of fixed bed columns using biomass of S. filipendula as a sorbent.