Continuous metal removal from solution and industrial effluents using Spirogyra biomass-packed column reactor

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 779 - 788
• Main Authors: Singh, Alpana, Kumar, Dhananjay, Gaur, J.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adsorption; Applied sciences; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biomass; Bioreactors; boiling; Column metal sorption; Column packings; Continuous system; copper; Copper - isolation & purification; desorption; Effluents; Exact sciences and technology; Granular materials; Granules; Industrial effluent; industrial effluents; Industrial Waste - analysis; Influents; lead; Lead - isolation & purification; Metals - isolation & purification; Models, Chemical; Pollution; Rheology; Saturation; Solutions; Sorption; Sorption–desorption cycle; Spirogyra; Spirogyra - metabolism; Spirogyra granule; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Water Pollutants, Chemical - isolation & purification; Water Purification; Water treatment and pollution; Spirogyra granule; Column metal sorption; Sorption–desorption cycle; Continuous system; Industrial effluent; Desorption; Biomass; Sorption-desorption cycle; Aldehyde; Modeling; Formaldehyde; Heavy metal; Operating conditions; Sorption; Trace element; Decontamination; Industrial waste water; Lead; Copper; Performance; Reactor; Packed column; Organic compounds; Breakthrough curve
• ISSN: 0043-1354; 1879-2448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2011.11.050

The granules of
Spirogyra neglecta biomass, diameter 0.2–0.5
mm, were successfully prepared by boiling it in urea–formaldehyde mixture. Metal sorption performance of the column packed with
Spirogyra granules was assessed under variable operating conditions, such as, different influent metal concentrations, bed heights and flow rates. These conditions greatly influenced the breakthrough time and volume, saturation time and volume, and the ability of the column to attain saturation after reaching the breakthrough. The experimental breakthrough curves obtained under varying experimental conditions were modeled using Bohart–Adams, Wolborska, Thomas, Yoon–Nelson and modified dose–response models. The first two models were valid only in representing the initial part of the breakthrough curves; however, the other three models were good in representing the entire breakthrough curve. The granule-packed column could be successfully used up to 6 and 9 cycles of sorption and desorption for the removal of Cu(II) and Pb(II), respectively. The column could efficiently remove different metals from real industrial effluents, and hence the test biomass (
Spirogyra granules) is a good candidate for commercial application.
Experimental breakthrough curves for the sorption Pb(II) by the
Spirogyra granule-packed column at different bed heights.
[Display omitted]
►
Spirogyra granule-packed column promisingly sorbed metals from aqueous systems. ► Operating conditions greatly influenced the service time of the column. ► Several empirical models successfully predicted experimental breakthrough curves. ► The column showed good reusability during multiple cycles of sorption–desorption. ► The column efficiently removed several metals from real industrial effluents.