Continuous sorption of copper and cobalt by crab shell particles in a packed column

The ability of crab shell to remove copper and cobalt from aqueous solutions was examined in an up-flow packed column. The experiments were conducted to study the effect of important design parameters such as bed height and flow rate. At a bed height of 25 cm, metal uptake capacity of crab shell for copper and cobalt was 52.07 and 20.47 mg g(-1) respectively. In addition, the results obtained at different flow rates indicated that an increase in flow rate decreased the sorption performance of the crab shell. The Bed Depth Service Time model and the Thomas model were used to analyze the experimental data and the model parameters were evaluated for copper and cobalt sorption. The column regeneration studies were carried out for five sorption-desorption cycles. Loss of sorption performance was observed as the cycles progressed, indicated by a shortened breakthrough time and a broadened mass transfer zone. However, crab shell maintained a good metal sorption capacity for all the five cycles. The elutant used for the regeneration of the crab shell, 0.01 M EDTA at pH 3.5 adjusted using HCI, exhibited elution efficiencies greater than 98%.