Fixed-bed Adsorption of Acid Dye using Granular Activated Alumina Prepared from Aluminum Scrap

DOI: 10.14416/j.ind.tech.2023.12.007

Abstract

This research aimed to study the adsorption performance of acid yellow 36 (AY36) from an aqueous solution using granular activated alumina (GAA) prepared from aluminum scrap in a fixed-bed column. The effects of GAA bed height (2-4 cm), dye solution flow rate (10-20 mL/min), and initial dye concentration (40-60 mg/L) on the breakthrough characteristics of the fixed-bed adsorption were investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity of the column was found to be 157.35 mg of AY36 per gram of GAA adsorbent at a bed height of 4 cm, initial dye concentration of 50 mg/L, and flow rate of 15 mL/min. The results revealed that GAA can be used as an effective adsorbent for the removal of acid yellow 36 in the fixed-bed column. The flow rate affected the adsorption efficiency and adsorbent saturation time, which depended on bed height and dye concentration. Thomas, Yoon-Nelson, and Adams-Bohart kinetic models were applied to analyze the experimental data and calculate the characteristic parameters of the column dynamics. The behaviors of the breakthrough curves fitted well to the Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models with coefficients of correlation R² ³ 0.89 at different conditions. These models can predict the adsorption capacity in a fixed-bed column to be used in the design of dye wastewater treatment processes.