Biosorption of Malathion using dry cells of Bacillus species S14 in a packed bed column reactor

AbstractThe ability of dried bacterial strain Bacillus sp. S14 to adsorb Malathion in a packed bed column reactor was studied. The effects of important design parameters such as bed height, flow rate and influent Malathion concentration on Malathion removal from an aqueous solution was studied using a packed bed column reactor. The optimised conditions for maximum Malathion removal were found to be: flow rate: 5 mL min-1, bed height: 6.0 cm and influent Malathion concentration: 25 mg L-1. The Adams-Bohart model, Wolborska model, Thomas model, Yoon and Nelson Model were employed to determine characteristic parameters such as N0 (saturation concentration, mg L-1), βo (external mass transfer coefficient, min-1), k Th(Thomas rate constant, mL min-1mg-1), q0 (maximum solid phase concentration of the solute, mg L-1), kYN (rate constant, min-1) and τ (time required for 50 % adsorbate breakthrough time, min) which are useful for process design. Data were fitted with Adams-Bohart model at lower region of (C/C0) va...