Bench-scale packed bed sorption of Cibacron blue F3GA using lucrative algal biomass

Adsorption of Cibacron blue F3GA (Reactive Blue 2) onto Spirulina platensis has been investigated in both batch mode and packed bed up-flow column. The effects of solution pH, initial dye concentration, particle size and temperature were studied in batch mode and the optimal conditions were used in continuous mode. The algal biomass revealed maximum dye uptake in acidic pH at room temperature. The breakthrough curves were obtained for various flow rates (4, 8 and 12 ml/min) and bed heights (5, 7.5 and 10 cm). The breakthrough time increased with increasing bed height and decreasing flow rate. The highest adsorption capacity (241.94 mg/g) on a 250 mg/L Reactive Blue 2 solution was accomplished with a flow rate of 12 ml/min and a bed depth of 10 cm. Different models, namely bed depth service time model, Thomas model, Adams-Bohart model, Wolborska model, Yoon-Nelson model, Yan et al. kinetic model and modified dose response model were employed to illustrate the performance of this packed-sorption process. The Thomas model and Yoon-Nelson model validated the sorption bed in a better manner than other models. Fourier Transform Infrared spectra and scanning electron microscopy images verify the sorption capacity of adsorbents. (C) 2016 Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).