Fixed-bed column performance of Mn-incorporated iron(III) oxide nanoparticle agglomerates on As(III) removal from the spiked groundwater in lab bench scale

• Agglomerated Mn-incorporated Fe(III) oxide nanoparticles packed fixed bed column for As removal.
• Design parameters on As removal from groundwater.
• Thomas model described the breakthrough data too well.
• BDST model described the bed depth variation data well.
• TCLP test suggested non-hazardous waste.

Assessment of the breakthrough performance of agglomerated Mn-incorporated Fe(III) oxide nanoparticle (MNFO) packed fixed-bed column on As(III) removal was conducted from the spiked groundwater. Variable parameters examined were column bed depth, effluent discharge rate and input As(III) concentration. Modeling of the breakthrough point (As concentration ⩽ 0.01 mg L−1) data by the Thomas and the Adams–Bohert models showed better fit of data with Thomas model (R2 = 0.98–0.99) than Adams–Bohert model (R2 = 0.90–0.94). The Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) modeling of breakthrough data at variable bed depths showed the length of mass transfer zone (D0), the adsorption capacity per unit volume (NBD) and the rate constant (kBD) values 9.65 × 10−7 cm, 3.34 mg cm−3 and 2.74 × 10−3 L mg−1 min−1, respectively. Best fixed-bed column performance was noted (VB = 16.39 L) only for the highest EBCT (8.3 min) and lowest input As(III) concentration (1.0 mg L−1). Thus, the MNFO fixed bed filtering column is capable to reduce not only high arsenic level but also other inorganic contaminants such as iron and phosphate from the groundwater.

Fitting breakthrough data with non-linear Thomas model and bed depth variation Bed Depth Service Time model with breakthrough data, obtained from the variation of bed depth for the arsenic removal from As(III) spiked groundwater suggested nice applicative possibility of agglomerated Mn-incorporated Fe(III) oxide nanoparticles for designing arsenic removal filter.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide