Fixed Column Study for the Removal of Zinc (II) Ions from Waste Water by Bone Char Rice Husks Ash and Water Hyacinth Composite-Mixture

Genson Murithi, Karanja wa-Thiongo, Kariuki S. Warui, Wachira Muthengia

Abstract: The adsorption potential of animal charcoal (BC/RHA/WH composite mixture to remove Zinc (II) ions from industrial wastewater was investigated using a fixed bed column was investigated. The effects of bed height (2 - 10) cm, flow rate (5 - 10) ml/min and feed concentration (diluted in the ratio 11 and 12) on the break through characteristics were determined. The highest bed capacity of 476.2 mg/g mg/g was obtained using 10 cm bed height, 12 feed concentration and 5 ml/min flow rate. The results indicate that adsorption capacity increased with increase in the inlet ion concentration and bed height and decreased with increase in flow rate. Adsorption data was fitted to Adam-Bohart, Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models.

Keywords: Adsorption, Bone char, Breakthrough curves, fixed bed column, Rice husks ash, Wastewater, Zinc II ions

How to Cite?: Genson Murithi, Karanja wa-Thiongo, Kariuki S. Warui, Wachira Muthengia, "Fixed Column Study for the Removal of Zinc (II) Ions from Waste Water by Bone Char Rice Husks Ash and Water Hyacinth Composite-Mixture", Volume 5 Issue 2, February 2016, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 708-714, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=NOV161140, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/NOV161140