Modeling of the adsorption breakthrough behaviors of Pb 2+ in a fixed bed of ETS-10 adsorbent

Abstract

On the basis of experimental breakthrough curves of lead ion adsorption on ETS-10 particles in a fixed-bed column, we simulated the breakthrough curves using the two-phase homogeneous diffusion model (TPHDM). Three important model parameters, namely the external mass-transfer coefficient ( k f ), effective intercrystal diffusivity ( D e ), and axial dispersion coefficient ( D L ), were optimally found to be 8.33 × 10 −5 m / s , 2.57 × 10 −10 m 2 / s , and 1.93 × 10 −10 m 2 / s , respectively. A good agreement was observed between the numerical simulation and the experimental results. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the value of D e dictates the model performance while the magnitude of k f primarily affects the initial breakthrough point of the breakthrough curves.