Impact of temperature, bed height, and particle size on Ni(II) removal in a continuous system: Modelling the break curve

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the adsorption capacity of the shell biomass (Dioscorea rotundata), taking into account the impact of temperature, bed height, and particle size on the removal of nickel(II) ions in aqueous solution in a continuous fixed-bed column system; performing the modelling of the break curve. The biomass was characterised by SEM-EDS analysis. The analysis found that it represents a rough, heterogeneous structure, rich in carbon and oxygen, with mesopores, and is suitable for removing heavy metals. It also determined the optimum parameters of the bed height, particle size, and temperature, keeping the pH and the initial concentration of the solution constant. The results revealed that the bed height and the particle size are the two most influential variables in the process. Ni(II) removal efficiencies range between 85.8 and 98.43%. It was found that the optimal conditions to maximise the efficiency of the process are temperature of 70°C, 1.22 mm particle size, and 124 mm bed height. The break curve was evaluated by fitting the experimental data to the Thomas, Adams–Bohart, Dose–Response, and Yoon–Nelson models, with the Dose–Response model showing the best affinity with a coefficient of determination R2 of 0.9996. The results obtained in this research showed that yam shell could be suggested as an alternative for use in the removal of Ni(II) ions present in an aqueous solution in a continuous system.