Simultaneous Continuous Removal of Cr(VI) and Phenol from Binary Synthetic Simulated Waste Water in Tea Waste Packed Bed Column: Kinetic Modeling

Abstract

In this study, simultaneous co-adsorption of Cr(VI) and phenol was carried out in a continuous packed-bed reactor packed with tea waste biomass. The experiments were carried out using binary synthetic simulated solution containing 100 mg/L of Cr(VI) and 50 mg/L of phenol. The binary synthetic solution was passed through the packed-bed reactor at different flow rates (5.46, 8.19, and 16.3 mL/min) and bed height (36, 54, 72, and 93 cm). The pH of the binary synthetic solution was 5 as the maximum simultaneous percentage removal of Cr(VI) and phenol was obtained at this pH reported in our previous study.[1] The effects of flow rate and bed depth onto the simultaneous percentage removal of Cr(VI) and phenol were investigated. According to the average percentage error (ϵ%) and average relative error (ARE %) calculated for various kinetic models reveal that Yoon–Nelson model for Cr(VI) and Thomas model for phenol best describes the experimental data. The maximum adsorption capacity of tea waste biomass in a packed-bed reactor for Cr(VI) and phenol was 57.04 and 27.96 mg/g, respectively. The packed bed of the column was regenerated using 2 N NaOH.