title: Copper biosorption on immobilized seaweed biomass: column breakthrough characteristics.
abstract: The biosorption of copper by the brown seaweed Sargassum baccularia, immobilized onto polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gel beads, was investigated with fixed-bed experiments. Laboratory-scale column tests were performed to determine breakthrough curves with varying flow rates and feed concentrations. A theoretical fixed-bed model, known as the Bohart-Adams equation, was evaluated in simulating the experimental breakthrough curves. The Bohart-Adams model qualitatively predicted the breakthrough trends. PVA-immobilized seaweed biomass beads were amenable to efficient regeneration with aqueous solution containing the chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The biosorbent retained most of its original uptake capacity over three cycles of use. The excellent reusability of the biosorbent could lead to the development of a viable metal remediation technology.
authors.affiliation: Honeywell Process Solutions, 17 Changi Business Park, Central 1, Singapore 486073. khimchu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hashim
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D018533:Biomass; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry; D044647:Sargassum; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003300:Copper; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; D004492:Edetic Acid