Removal of Cu(II) by biosorption onto coconut shell in fixed-bed column systems

Biosorption of Cu(II) onto coconut shell, an agricultural biomaterial, was studied in a fixed-bed column. The Cu(II) biosorption column had the best performance at 10mgL-1 inlet Cu(II) concentration, 10mLmin-1 flow rate and 20cm bed depth. The equilibrium uptake of Cu(II) amounted to 7.25mgg-1. The simulation of the breakthrough curve was successful with the BDST and Yoon-Nelson models, but the entire breakthrough curve was best predicted by the Clark model. The design of a fixed bed column for Cu(II) removal from wastewater by biosorption onto coconut shell can be done based on these models. © 2012 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry.