Fixed bed column study for Cr (VI) removal from aqueous solution using durian peel

Abstract

The sorption of the chromium (VI) on durian peel was investigated in a fix bed column. Biosorption experiments were carried out to determine the influence of three different flow rates and bed heights. The column studies were conducted with a glass column with 2 cm diameter and 50 cm height. The results showed that the sorption capacity was strongly dependent on the flow rate and bed height. Also, the column performed well at the lowest flow rate and the highest bed height. As the flow rate increased, the breakthrough curve became steeper, the break point time and sorbed ion concentration decreased. The breakthrough time increased with increasing bed height. The optimal lowest sorbent usage rate was 0.022 g/ml and the minimum bed height values necessary to prevent the effluent solution concentration from exceeding 0.25 mg/l was 12.2 cm for the flow rate of 10 ml/min.