Fixed-bed column study for the adsorptive removal of acid fuchsin using carbon–alumina composite pellet

Abstract

The carbon–alumina composite pellet was developed for the adsorption of acid fuchsin from its aqueous solution. The composite pellet was characterized using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The adsorption capacity of commercial alumina, commercial activated carbon and the prepared composite pellet was investigated against acid fuchsin, and the adsorption capacity was found to be increased in the order of alumina < carbon–alumina composite pellet < activated carbon. Although the adsorption capacity of carbon–alumina composite pellets was less than that of activated carbon, the use of the pelletized form of the present adsorbent was proven to be advantageous for the use in the packed-bed column. The experimental data were fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin adsorption isotherms, and the equilibrium behavior was well explained by Langmuir isotherm. Besides, the kinetic behavior was well predicted by pseudo-second-order kinetics. The effects of inlet dye concentration (10–20 mg/L), feed flowrate (5–15 mL/min) and bed height (2.54–7.62 cm) on the breakthrough characteristics were investigated using a fixed-bed column. The maximum removal capacity in the column study was found to be 343.87 mg/L with an initial dye concentration and flowrate of 20 and 10 mL/min according to Bohart–Adams model. The breakthrough behavior was also effectively described by the Yoon–Nelson and Clark models.