Breakthrough curve modeling of graphene oxide aerogel packed fixed bed column for the removal of Cr(VI) from water

Abstract

The extensive investigation was conducted on the performance of the laboratory-scale fixed-bed column containing graphene/polylysine aerogel as an adsorbent for the removal of Cr(VI). The effect of important column design parameters on the performance of the column bed was investigated. High bed height, low influent flow rate, and high influent Cr(VI) concentration were found to be the better condition for the adsorption of Cr(VI). The effect of column bed height on the breakthrough was analyzed using bed depth service time (BDST) model and predicted the critical bed height 0.37 and 1.0 cm at flow rates 1.66 and 3.32 mL/min respectively for the Cr(VI). The Thomas and Yoon-Nelson model were found suitable for describing the breakthrough behavior of the column. The regeneration of exhausted column bed was studied for three cycles of adsorption-desorption. The calculation of life factor suggested that the column bed can avoid the breakthrough time at t = 0 for 7.5 cycles whereas, the uptake capacity would be zero after 9.12 cycles of adsorption-desorption. © 2017