Fixed Bed Column Operations for the Biosorption of Cu (II) from Synthetic and Electroplating Wastewater Using Syzygium Cumini Leaves Powder

Abstract

Low cost biosorbents have demonstrated outstanding removal capabilities of various metal ions. The present work has helped in identifying unreported, new, readily available low cost adsorbent, Syzygium cumini leaves powder for the biosorption of Cu (II) from synthetic and electroplating wastewater, using column studies. The experiments were conducted to study the effect of parameters viz. , bed height (11. 0, 17. 0 and 21. 0 cm), flow rate (2. 0, 3. 5 and 5. 0 ml min-') and initial metal ion concentration (50, I 00, 150 mg La^-1). Tbe percentage removal was maximum (75. 90%) when bed height of21. 0 cm was used with flow rate of 2. 0 mL min^-1 and 100 mgL^-1 initial metal ion concentration.