Cross-flow leaching of alkali and alkaline-earth metals from sawdust and wheat straw - Modelling of the process

Change in the pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured after passing of each portion of wash water through the biomass. Change of the EC against the wash water volume follows fairly the change of leachate composition. Based on the experimental results, the process of alkali and alkaline-earth metals leaching was modelled assuming the cross-flow scheme of leaching process. Proposed model follows fairly the experimental data. Discrepancy between the experimental and calculated values for alkaline-earth metals in case of beech sawdust is attributed to a different leaching mechanism.