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 10 mg L-1 inlet Cu(II) concentration, 10 mL min(-1) flow rate and 20 cm bed depth. The equilibrium uptake of Cu(II) amounted to 7.25 mg g(-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. (C). 2012 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.