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Synthesis of nano-γ-Al2O3/chitosan beads (AlCBs) and continuous heavy metals removal from liquid solution

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Abstract

In this work, synthesis of chitosan beads impregnated with nano-γ-Al2O3 (AlCB) was carried out. The characteristics of the synthesized adsorbent were obtained by using Brunauer Emmett and Teller technique and Scanning Electron Microscopy method. The use of AlCB in continuous removal of chromium, lead, nickel and cadmium ions from liquid solution was studied using fixed-bed column system. Bed depths and flow rate effects on breakthrough and uptake capacity of the adsorbent in column were also examined. Dynamic parameters of the adsorption were calculated by using bed depth service time (BDST) and Thomas models. In both models, the data were analyzed by error analyzing and combining the values of determined coefficient (R 2) from regression analysis. The adsorption capacities of AlCB in breakthrough were 158.33, 183.33, 63.33 and 31.67 mg/g for chromium, lead, nickel and cadmium, respectively. In addition, BDST model was found to be an acceptable kinetic model to describe the experimental data.

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Abbreviations

C 0 :

Influent concentration (mg/L)

C t :

Effluent concentration at any t (mg/L)

K Th :

Thomas rate constant [mL/(mg.min)]

K AB :

BDST the kinetic constant (L/mmol h)

M :

Mass of adsorbent (g)

N 0 :

Dynamic bed capacity (g/L)

N b :

Is dynamic removal capacity of the fixed-bed column (mmol/cm3)

q e :

Is the equilibrium heavy metals uptake (mg/g)

Q :

Volumetric flow rate (mL/min)

t b :

Time at breakthrough (h)

t :

Bed service time (h)

U 0 :

Linear flow rate (cm/h)

V :

Linear velocity of flow rate (cm/h)

Z :

Bed depth (cm)

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to extend their sincere gratitude to all who supported this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, Graduate School of the Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    A. Shokati Poursani, A. Hassani & L. Asad Amraji

  2. Materials and Nuclear Fuel Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology, P.O. Box 11365-8486, Tehran, Iran

    A. Shokati Poursani & A. Nilchi

  3. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Payame Noor University, P.O.Box 19395-3697, Tehran, Iran

    S. Tabibian

Authors
  1. A. Shokati Poursani
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  2. A. Nilchi
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  3. A. Hassani
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  4. S. Tabibian
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  5. L. Asad Amraji
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Correspondence to A. Shokati Poursani.

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Editorial responsibility: M. Abbaspour.

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Shokati Poursani, A., Nilchi, A., Hassani, A. et al. Synthesis of nano-γ-Al2O3/chitosan beads (AlCBs) and continuous heavy metals removal from liquid solution. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 14, 1459–1468 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1357-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1357-4

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