Ion-exchange breakthrough curves for single and multi-metal systems using marine macroalgae Pelvetia canaliculata as a natural cation exchanger

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Fabiola V. Hackbarth (Author) FEUP; Franciélle Girardi (Author) Other; João C. Santos (Author) Other; Antônio Augusto U. de Souza (Author) FEUP; Rui A. R. Boaventura (Author) FEUP; Selene M. A. Guelli U. de Souza (Author) Other; Vítor J. P. Vilar (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Chemical Engineering Journal

Vol. 269

Pages: 359-370

ISSN: 1385-8947

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 15 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 19 Citations

INSPEC

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Environmental engineering

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Technology > Environmental technology

Associated Projects

LA 20 - PROJECTO ESTRATÉGICO - LA 20 - 2013-2014

ALGAEVALUE - Valorização de macroalgas marinhas na separação e recuperação de iões metálicos tóxicos presentes em água

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00A-AEQ

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2015.01.127

Abstract (EN): In this study, single and multi-metal ion-exchange systems, Na+/H+/Cd2+, Ne+/H+/Pb2+, Na+/H+/Cu2+, Na+/ H+/Zn2+ and Na+/H+/Cd2+/Pb2+/Cu2+/Zn2+, were studied in continuous mode using a fixed-bed column packed with Na-loaded macroalgae Pelvetia canaliculata as natural cation exchanger. Breakthrough curves were obtained for all the systems operating at inlet metal concentrations of 20 mg/L. For the single metal ion-exchange systems, the service capacity obtained was 329, 107, 120 and 184 bed volumes for Zn2+, Cu2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+, respectively. Desorption, using 0.1 M HNO3 as eluent, was fast and near to 100% of effectiveness, using only 10 bed volumes of eluent, achieving maximum metal concentrations at the column outlet of 2.8 3.8, 1.5 and 1.8 g/L for Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions, respectively. In the multi-metal sorption process, Cd and Zn break through the column faster than Cu and Pb due to its lower affinity for the biosorbent. An overshoot in the Cd and Zn outlet concentrations was observed for the multi-metal system and explained by the competitive uptake with Pb and Cu ions. Biosorption of Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ by P. canaliculata pre-loaded with sodium is based on an ion-exchange mechanism accompanied by the release of Na+ into the liquid phase. A mass transfer model, including the mass balances to the packed bed column and thin plate algal particles, assuming a LDF model, and complementary equations (as mass action law equilibrium relations, initial and boundary equations), was able to fit well the experimental data. Finally, an ion-exchange pilot plant was tested for the treatment of a multi-metal synthetic solution using the natural macroalgae.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12