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1
1 exp
k
Th
q
e
x
Q
k
Th
C
0
t
h i ; 1
where k
Th
(mL/min.mg) is the Thomas model constant,
q
e
(mg/g) is the predicted adsorption capacity, x is mass
of adsorbent (g), Q is influent flow rate (mL/min), C
0
is
initial solution concentration (mg/L), and C
t
is effluent
solution concentration (mg/L). The linear form of
Thomas model is expressed as Equation 2:
ln
C
0
C
t
1
k
Th
q
e
x
Q
k
Th
C
0
t 2
Yoon-Nelson model
This model is simpler than other models and also re-
quires no data about the characteristics of the system
such as the type of adsorbent and the physical properties
of the adsorption bed.
The Yoon-Nelson equation is expressed as Equa-
tion 3 [27]:
C
t
C
0
C
t
exp k
YN
tk
YN
; 3
where k
YN
(1/min) is the rate constant and (min) is the
time required for 50% adsorbate breakthrough. The linear
form of Yoon-Nelson model is expressed as Equation 4:
Figure 2 Linear plot of Thomas model with experimental data at different heights. C
0
= 100 mg/L, Q
0
= 6 mL/min.
Figure 3 Linear plot of Thomas model with experimental data at different flow rates. C
0
= 100 mg/L, L
0
= 10 cm.
Saadi et al. Journal Of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2013, : Page 3 of 8
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2013, 3:48
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ln
C
t
C
0
C
t
k
YN
tk
YN
: 4
Adams-Bohart model
The Adams-Bohart model is based on the assumption
that the rate of adsorption is proportional to both the
concentration of the adsorbing species and the residual
capacity of the adsorbent. The Adams-Bohart model is
only used for the description of the initial part of the
breakthrough curve and is expressed as Equation 5 [28]:
C
t
C
0
exp k
AB
C
0
tk
AB
N
0
z
U
0
; 5
where k
AB
(l/min.mg) is rate constant of Adams-Bohart
model, z (cm) is the bed depth, N
0
(mg/L) is maximum
ion adsorption capacity per unit volume of adsorbent
column, and U
0
(cm/min) is the linear velocity of influ-
ent solution. The linear form of Adams-Bohart model is
expressed as Equation 6:
ln
C
t
C
0
k
AB
C
0
tk
AB
N
0
z
U
0
: 6
Methods
A Pyrex column (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA)
30 cm in height and 1 cm in diameter was used with up-
ward flow. In order to avoid the exiting adsorbent from
column, glass wool at the top and bottom of the column
was applied. Schematic of experimental set-up is shown
in Figure 1.
In order to investigate the effect of flow rate on the
behavior of the adsorbent column, flow rates 3, 6, and 9
mL/min with constant concentrations 100 ppm, con-
stant bed height 10 cm were used. In order to investigate
the effect of height on the behavior of the adsorbent col-
umn, heights 5, 10, and 15 cm (equivalent with 3.5342,
7.0685, and 10.6028 gr) with constant concentrations
100 ppm and constant flow rate 6 mL/min were used,
and in order to investigate the effect of initial concentra-
tion of lead ion on behavior of the adsorbent column,
concentrations 65, 100, and 150 ppm with constant bed
height 10 cm and constant flow rate 6 mL/min were
used. Effluent samples from the column were collected
at specified time intervals, and remaining lead concen-
trations in the solution were measured by atomic ab-
sorption technique.
In all experiments, the temperature and pH values
were adjusted to 25C and 4.5, respectively.
Maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in a
fixed-bed column is calculated by Equations 7 and 8 [22]:
q
e
Q
1000W
t
total
0
C
0
C
t
dt 7
Table 3 Yoon-Nelson model parameters using linear
regression analysis for Pb2+ adsorption under various
operating conditions
Q(mL/min) L(cm) C
0
(mg/L) (min) k
YN
(1/min) R
2
3 10 100 1,196.516 0.003 0.9109
6 10 100 549.076 0.005 0.9112
9 10 100 349.17 0.009 0.9308
6 5 100 253.067 0.011 0.9182
6 15 100 857.894 0.003 0.9147
6 10 65 777.119 0.004 0.9401
6 10 150 383.662 0.007 0.9319
Figure 4 Linear plot of Thomas model with experimental data at different concentrations. Q
0
= 6 mL/min, L
0
= 10 cm.
Saadi et al. Journal Of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2013, : Page 4 of 8
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2013, 3:48
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q
e;max
q
total
w
; 8
where q
e,max
(mg/g) is maximum adsorption capacity of
the adsorbent, Q (mL/min) is flow rate, C
0
(mg/L) is initial
concentration, C
t
(mg/L) is concentration in specified
time, and w (g) is mass of the adsorbent.
Results and discussions
Characterization of adsorbent
Characterization of nanostructured -alumina is presented
in Table 1.
Evaluation of Thomas model parameters
To determine maximum adsorption capacity of the ad-
sorbent (q
e,max
) and kinetic coefficient (k
Th
) in Thomas
model, experimental data were fit into the Equation 2.
Linear regression results and values of R
2
are listed in
Table 2, where values of R
2
ranged from 0.9109 to
0.9401. According to Table 2, the calculated q
e
,
max
from
Thomas model is greater than experimental q
e,max
. It is
also seen in Table 2 that as C
0
and adsorbent weight in-
creased, the value of q
e,max
and k
Th
increased and de-
creased, respectively. This is because the driving force
for adsorption is the difference in concentration between
the lead on the adsorbent and in the solution [29]. As
flow rate increased, the value of q
e,max
decreased. This is
because of unavailability of reaction sites, but the value
of k
Th
increased. Linear form of Thomas model in differ-
ent heights, flow rates, and concentrations is shown in
Figures 2, 3, and 4, respectively. As can be observed, the
experimental data are in good agreement with the theor-
etical results.
Evaluation of Yoon-Nelson model parameters
Linear regression results and values of R
2
are presented
in Table 3. It was observed that rate constant (k
YN
) and
Figure 6 Linear plot of Yoon-Nelson model with experimental data at different flow rates. C
0
= 50 mg/L, L
0
= 15 cm.
Figure 5 Linear plot of Yoon-Nelson model with experimental data at different heights. C
0
= 100 mg/L, Q
0
= 6 mL/min.
Saadi et al. Journal Of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2013, : Page 5 of 8
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2013, 3:48
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time required for 50% adsorbate breakthrough () de-
creased and increased, respectively, with increasing ad-
sorbent dose. Also, it was found that the rate constant
(k
YN
) increases as much as flow rate increases. Because
of less residence time of metal ion in adsorbent bed,
time required for 50% adsorbate breakthrough () de-
creased with increasing flow rate (Table 3). Linear plot
of Yoon-Nelson model in different heights, flow rates,
and concentrations is shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, re-
spectively. As can be observed, the experimental data
are fit well with the model. It can be concluded that
both Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models are appropriate
models to describe fixed-bed operations.
Evaluation of Adams-Bohart model parameters
Linear regression results (Table 4) are shown that ad-
sorption capacity of the adsorbent (N
0
) and kinetic con-
stant of the model (k
AB
) increased and decreased,
respectively, with increasing adsorbent dose and initial
lead concentration. Because of more saturation of ad-
sorbent sites, adsorption capacity of the adsorbent (N
0
)
decreased with increasing flow rate. Also, kinetic con-
stant of the model (k
AB
) increased with increasing flow
rate. Linear plot of Adams-Bohart model in different
heights, flow rates, and concentrations is shown in Fig-
ures 8, 9, and 10, respectively.
The lower R
2
values relative to the other models can
be interpreted that the Adams-Bohart model is not as
appropriate a predictor for the breakthrough curve.
Conclusions
Studies on continuous adsorption using nanostructured
-alumina to remove Pb (II) indicate that this adsorbent
has high ability to remove heavy metal ions from aque-
ous solutions.
Adsorption capacity strongly depends on flow rate, in-
fluent concentration, and bed height.
Comparison of Thomas, Yoon-Nelson, and Adams-Bohart
kinetic models with experimental data was performed,
and model parameters were determined by linear regres-
sion analysis for Pb
2+
adsorption under various operating
conditions. The experimental data fit well with Thomas
and Yoon-Nelson models, but the Adams-Bohart model
predicted poor performance of fixed-bed column.
Results showed that with increasing initial concentra-
tion of lead, adsorption capacity of the adsorbent and
kinetic constant of model increased and decreased, re-
spectively, in the Thomas model. Fifty percent adsorbate
breakthrough and rate constant decreased and increased,
respectively, in the Yoon-Nelson model. Capacity of the
adsorbent and kinetic constant increased and decreased,
respectively, in the Adams-Bohart model.
Table 4 Adams-Bohart model parameters using linear
regression analysis for Pb2+ adsorption under various
operating conditions
Q(mL/min) L(cm) C
0
(mg/L) N
0
(mg/L) k
AB
(mL/min.mg) R
2
3 10 100 37,182.271 0.099 0.8699
6 10 100 30,835.733 0.206 0.8669
9 10 100 27,371.123 0.334 0.8813
6 5 100 29,346.952 0.367 0.8488
6 15 100 32,464.054 0.15 0.8733
6 10 65 30,136.07 0.207 0.9096
6 10 150 35,097.074 0.118 0.7767
Figure 7 Linear plot of Yoon-Nelson model with experimental data at different concentrations. Q
0
= 6 mL/min, L
0
= 10 cm.
Saadi et al. Journal Of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2013, : Page 6 of 8
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2013, 3:48
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Figure 9 Linear plot of Adams-Bohart model with experimental data at different flow rates. C
0
= 100 mg/L, L
0
= 10 cm.
Figure 8 Linear plot of Adams-Bohart model with experimental data at different height. C
0
= 100 mg/L, Q
0
= 6 mL/min.
Figure 10 Linear plot of Adams-Bohart model with experimental data at different concentration. Q
0
= 6 mL/min, L
0
= 10 cm.
Saadi et al. Journal Of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2013, : Page 7 of 8
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2013, 3:48
http://www.jnanochem.com/content/3/1/48
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interest.
Authors contributions
ZS carried out the preparation of experimental elements. ZS and RS
participated in doing the experiments and analyzed, interpreted, and
organized the data. RF designed and coordinated the overall project.
ZS, RS and RF carried out the manuscript preparation. All authors read
and approved the final manuscript.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank Mr. Bagher Biralvand for his great help in the
atomic absorption analysis.
Received: 26 May 2013 Accepted: 25 June 2013
Published:
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doi:
Cite this article as: Saadi et al.: Fixed-bed adsorption dynamics of Pb (II)
adsorption from aqueous solution using nanostructured -alumina.
Journal Of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2013 :.
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Saadi et al. Journal Of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2013, : Page 8 of 8
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15 Jul 2013
10.1186/2193-8865-3-48
2013, 3:48
2013, 3:48
http://www.jnanochem.com/content/3/1/48