Adsorption of dyes using activated carbons

• Main Author: Cai, Hui Yang
• Other Authors: Lua Aik Chong
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Assistive technology; DRNTU::Engineering::Industrial engineering::Quality engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/40588
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Activated carbons are commonly used in adsorption of dyes and chemicals. In this work, the adsorption capabilities of large and fine granular activated carbons were investigated using equilibrium batch and fixed bed column. The effects of concentrations of the chemicals, metanil yellow and 2-nitrophenol in equilibrium batch test (4ppm-12ppm), activated carbon bed weight (3grams-12grams), feed flow rate (100ml/min-150ml/min) were determined. The best results obtained for equilibrium batch study using metanil yellow and 2-nitrophenol as adsorbates were 0.37mg/g and 0.215mg/g respectively. These results were obtained from 12 grams of fine activated carbons at a concentration of 16ppm for the adsorbates. For the fixed bed column experiments, the best results obtained were 16.459mg/g for adsorption of metanil yellow and 12.271mg/g for 2-nitrophenol. The parameters of the tests were: 12 grams of fine activated carbon with the solutions flowing at 150ml/min. Experiment results showed that adsorption using activated carbons was stronger in metanil yellow solution than in 2-nitrophenol solution.