Chapter 6
Modelling of Packed Bed Column
for the Adsorption of Cu(II) Ions Using
Chemically Enhanced Chitosan Beads
Abstract In this study, the removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution using modified Chitosan as a chelating adsorbent was examined in a packed bed column. The
characterization of the modified Chitosan using SEM analysis reveals orderly porous
structure while BET analysis indicates that the material possesses large surface areas.
Using swan model to fit the adsorption experimental data, the column breakthrough
curves for the adsorption of Cu(II) ions onto the adsorbent was reasonably predicted
well. The model predicted that at pH of 5.1, the diffusion coefficient was calculated to
be between 2.82 × 10
−10 and 3.12 × 10
−10 m
2 /s at different bed heights. Following
several adsorption and desorption cycles carried out, 5.0 and 11.0% mass loss of the
beads was observed during the third and fourth cycles of adsorption and desorption
cycles. The maximum adsorption capacities of the absorbent in the second, third
and fourth cycles of adsorption were calculated to be 98, 91 and 86%, respectively.
However, the adsorption performances of the absorbent was reduced greatly, as 22%
weight loss was observed in the mass of the beads during the fifth cycle of adsorption
desorption operations.
6.1 Introduction
Inorganic pollutants in water have wide range of negative effects on aquatic organisms, plants and human. As stated by the World Health Organization and international
programs on chemical health, these toxic contaminants, such as Cu(II), have deadly,
bio-accumulative and persistent characteristics that influence human and aquatic
life [1, 2]. Excessive intake of Cu(II) causes headaches, dizziness, stomach aches,
vomiting, diarrhoea, damage to the liver and kidneys and even death. Copper does not
break down in the environment and can therefore accumulate in plants and animals
when it is found in soils. Only a limited number of plants have the ability to thrive
in soils where Cu(II) is richly abundant, and thus, there is not much plant diversity
near the Cu(II) disposing industries [3]. This recalcitrant ion of metal resulted from
many industries, such as mineral processing, leather, tannery, metal plating, steel
manufacturing and plants which use water as a refrigerant [4, 5]. Various methods,
such as chemical precipitation, separating membranes, ion exchange, electrolysis
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
E. Igberase et al., Enhanced Chitosan Material for Water Treatment,
Engineering Materials, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71722-3_6
115
Modelling of Packed Bed Column
for the Adsorption of Cu(II) Ions Using
Chemically Enhanced Chitosan Beads
Abstract In this study, the removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution using modified Chitosan as a chelating adsorbent was examined in a packed bed column. The
characterization of the modified Chitosan using SEM analysis reveals orderly porous
structure while BET analysis indicates that the material possesses large surface areas.
Using swan model to fit the adsorption experimental data, the column breakthrough
curves for the adsorption of Cu(II) ions onto the adsorbent was reasonably predicted
well. The model predicted that at pH of 5.1, the diffusion coefficient was calculated to
be between 2.82 × 10
−10 and 3.12 × 10
−10 m
2 /s at different bed heights. Following
several adsorption and desorption cycles carried out, 5.0 and 11.0% mass loss of the
beads was observed during the third and fourth cycles of adsorption and desorption
cycles. The maximum adsorption capacities of the absorbent in the second, third
and fourth cycles of adsorption were calculated to be 98, 91 and 86%, respectively.
However, the adsorption performances of the absorbent was reduced greatly, as 22%
weight loss was observed in the mass of the beads during the fifth cycle of adsorption
desorption operations.
6.1 Introduction
Inorganic pollutants in water have wide range of negative effects on aquatic organisms, plants and human. As stated by the World Health Organization and international
programs on chemical health, these toxic contaminants, such as Cu(II), have deadly,
bio-accumulative and persistent characteristics that influence human and aquatic
life [1, 2]. Excessive intake of Cu(II) causes headaches, dizziness, stomach aches,
vomiting, diarrhoea, damage to the liver and kidneys and even death. Copper does not
break down in the environment and can therefore accumulate in plants and animals
when it is found in soils. Only a limited number of plants have the ability to thrive
in soils where Cu(II) is richly abundant, and thus, there is not much plant diversity
near the Cu(II) disposing industries [3]. This recalcitrant ion of metal resulted from
many industries, such as mineral processing, leather, tannery, metal plating, steel
manufacturing and plants which use water as a refrigerant [4, 5]. Various methods,
such as chemical precipitation, separating membranes, ion exchange, electrolysis
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
E. Igberase et al., Enhanced Chitosan Material for Water Treatment,
Engineering Materials, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71722-3_6
115