Separation of Succinic Acid from Aqueous Solution by Alumina Adsorption

Attempts were made to recover succinic acid (IUPAC systematic name as ethane 1,2-dicarboxylic acid) from aqueous solutions by alumina adsorption. Experimental adsorption works were conducted with aqueous solutions containing succinic acid in four different concentrations: (0.13, 0.22, 0.32, and 0.45) mol.kg(-1). Alumina were used in 10 different amounts: (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, and 2) g. Also adsorption experiments were carried out at three different temperatures: (298, 308, and 318) K. The equilibrium distributions of succinic acid were determined. The minimum equilibrium concentration of succinic acid was 0.28 mol.kg(-1) for 0.45 mol.kg(-1) succinic acid concentration with 2 g of alumina The adsorption data fit well within the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms. Isotherm parameters have been obtained. Also the kinetics of the adsorption for succinic acid were determined as the pseudosecond-order model.