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Cu (II) removal intensification using Fe3O4 nanoparticles under inert gas and magnetic field in a microchannel

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Abstract

In the present study, Cu (II) ions removal from aqueous solution was intensified by exciting magnetic nanoparticles under inert gas, magnetic field and combination of these two mixing methods in a T-type microchannel. The flow patterns and liquid–liquid two-phase mass transfer were studied in three different magnet distances from mixing channel (3, 6 and 10 mm) and also in the presence of different inert gas flow rates (1, 3 and 5 mL/min). Depending on the mixing method and the flow rate of both phases, several distinct flow patterns were observed including slugs, droplet, parallel and dispersed flows. The performances of mixing techniques for mass transfer enhancement based on relative removal efficiency ratio (λ) and mass transfer coefficient ratio (γ) were compared with simple layout (without nanoparticles, magnetic field and inert gas). The results showed that simultaneous using of inert gas and magnetic field can drive the nanoparticles as mixer. Liquid–liquid mass transfer with 27–62% enhancement in E and 235–285% in K L a compared with plain one was observed.

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Abbreviations

C aq,in :

Concentration of propionic acid in the inlet of the aqueous phase (mol/L)

C aq,out :

Concentration of propionic acid in the outlet of the aqueous phase (mol/L)

\(C_{\text{aq}}^{*}\) :

Equilibrium concentration of the propionic acid in the aqueous phase (mol/L)

E :

Extraction efficiency (–)

E 0 :

Extraction efficiency of simple layout (without any mixing factor) (–)

K L a :

Volumetric mass transfer coefficient (1/s)

K L a :

Volumetric mass transfer coefficient of simple layout (without any mixing factor) (1/s)

Q aq :

Aqueous phase volume flow rate (m3/s)

Q or :

Organic phase volume flow rate (m3/s)

T :

Temperature (K)

t m :

Residence time of mixture of two phase (s)

V :

Total volume of mixing channel (m3)

λ :

Relative removal efficiency ratio (–)

γ :

Relative mass transfer coefficient ratio (–)

aq:

Aqueous phase

or:

Organic phase

in:

Inlet

m:

Mixture of the liquid–liquid two-phase mass transfer

out:

Outlet

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Nanotechnology Initiative Council of Iran for providing the financial support to carry out this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CFD Research Center, Chemical Engineering Department, Razi University, Taghe Bostan, Kermanshah, Iran

    O. Jafari, M. Rahimi, F. Hosseini Kakavandi & N. Azimi

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  1. O. Jafari
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  2. M. Rahimi
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  3. F. Hosseini Kakavandi
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  4. N. Azimi
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Correspondence to M. Rahimi.

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Editorial responsibility: B.B. Huang.

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Jafari, O., Rahimi, M., Hosseini Kakavandi, F. et al. Cu (II) removal intensification using Fe3O4 nanoparticles under inert gas and magnetic field in a microchannel. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 14, 1651–1664 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1276-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1276-4

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