Batch and column studies of Zn2+ removal from aqueous solution using chicken feathers as sorbents

We report the removal of zinc ions from aqueous solution by raw chicken feathers using both batch and continuous systems. Specifically, kinetic and sorption isotherms have been determined considering the effect of temperature, pH and metal concentration. Batch sorption data were fitted to various sorption models and results indicate that Zn2+ sorption process using raw chicken feathers followed the pseudo-second order rate model, while sorption isotherms were described properly by Sips isotherm. Sorption isotherms show that the experimental maximum sorption capacity of Zn2+ was found to be 4.31 mg/g at 30 °C and pH 5 and that chemisorption may play an essential role in the process. On the other hand, breakthrough curves were obtained for the sorption of Zn2+ ions using fixed bed columns packed with raw chicken feathers at different conditions of feed flow rate, metal concentration and pH. Results show that the characteristics of these breakthrough curves are dependent of the column operating conditions, especially pH and feed flow rate. Thomas model has been used for data fitting of sorption continuous experiments and for determining design parameters useful to characterize the performance of packed bed columns. Overall, results demonstrate that raw chicken feathers should be regarded as a low-cost alternative for the removal of Zn2+ ions from wastewaters.