Adsorption of Cu(II) and Cr(VI) by zeolite in batch and column mode

Abstract Zeolite was used for adsorption of Cu(II) and Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions in batch as well as column mode. The effect of pH (3-7), initial concentration (10-40 mg/l), adsorbent dose (1-3 gm) and contact time was considered for the batch study. The effect of bed height(2,4,5 inch) and flow rate (2,3, 5 lit/hr.) were studied. The experimental results revealed that removal efficiency increased from 80.15 to 89.25% for Cu(II) while it was decreased from 87.35 to 65.45 for Cr(VI) on increase in pH from 3-7 at initial concentration from 10 mg/l to 40 mg/l. The column experiments showed that the breakthrough time and the exhaustion time is found to increase with increase in bed height. The experimental data were well fitted by Yoon-Nelson model for breakthrough curve.