Removal of Cu2+, Fe2+ and SO42− ions from industrial wastewater by ion exchange resins contained in a rotating perforated cylindrical basket of different heights

Abstract

The present study is concerned with the development of a new cylindrical basket filled with ion exchange resin. The performance of the reactor was examined by removing Cu2+, Fe2+ and SO42− ions from synthetic wastewater. Variables studied were the initial ion concentration in the solution, contact time, resin height inside the cylindrical basket and cylindrical basket rotational speed. Dimensionless analysis was used to obtain a mass transfer correlation for each of the mentioned ions suitable for scale up and design of the present reactor. The experimental results revealed that both the percentage and the rate of removal of (Cu2+, Fe2+ and SO42−) ions decrease as the initial ion concentration in the solution increases, while they increase as the contact time, rotational speed and (L/d) ratio increase. Both Langmuir’s and Freundlich’s adsorption isotherms were examined and it was found that Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm gives a better fitting for the obtained data than Freundlich’s. Regeneration ability was tested, which revealed the high resin efficiency upon operating several consequence cycles that could reach 4 cycles with a slight decrease in the removal efficiency.