Breakthrough Curve Analysis of Enteromorpha prolifera Packed Fixed-Bed Column for the Biosorption

Abstract A continuous fixed-bed study was carried out utilizing Enteromorpha prolifera (EP) biosorbent for removing methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. Effect of operating conditions such as bed depth, influent flow rate, pH, MB initial concentration, and column shape were investigated. Results confirmed that excellent sorption is a neutral condition of MB at appropriate flow rate (2 mL/min), and maximum dynamic adsorption capacity of EP for MB was estimated to be 348.06 mg/g. The Thomas and Yoon–Nelson models both described the entire breakthrough curve well at all experimental conditions, while Bohart–Adams and Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) models were only suitable for an initial part of dynamic behavior of the column. Regeneration of the column was conducted by using 1 M NaCl solution as an eluent. Dipole–dipole interactions and the hydrogen bonding were proposed to interpret the mechanisms of the observed biosorption.