Batch and fixed bed adsorption of Cr VI onto activated carbon prepared from stem waste of sugar palm tree (Arenga pinnata)

Abstract

The adsorption of chromium (VI) on the activated carbon prepared from stem waste of sugar palm tree was investigated in batch system and in a fixed bed column. Batch system was carried out to obtain isotherm adsorption and determine the effect of adsorbent mass, contact time and waste solution concentration. The results indicate that the maximum adsorption capacity is at the lowest adsorbent mass and reaches equilibrium concentration at 10 minute. The adsorption capacity will increase along with the increase in the concentration of the waste. The results show that the Freundlich isotherm model is more suitable for adsorption of chromium than Langmuir Model. Effect of bed height, initial chromium concentration and flow rate were studied on fixed bed adsorption to obtain breakthrough curve. The experiment indicate that more chromium is adsorbed along with the increase of bed height and initial chromium concentration, while in flowrate show an opposite trend. From the statistical parameters of SSE (Sum Square of Errors), the Adam-Bohart model is the more appropriate model among the three models examined.