Adsorption of Copper(ii) by Peanut Hulls in a Fixed-bed, Continuous Flow Column

ADSORPTION OF COPPER(II) BY PEANUT HULLS IN A FIXED-BED, CONTINUOUS FLOW COLUMN Tyler Stephen Cook, Masters of Science in Chemistry Western Carolina University (April 2017) Advisor: Dr. Carmen L. Huffman Heavy metal pollution is an important concern due to its adverse health and environmental effects. Biosorption is a way to remove heavy metals from aqueous systems with the use of biomaterials. There are many different types of biosorbents, such as algae, fungus, bacteria and lignocellulosic materials (wood, saw dust, peat, wheat bran, nut shells, etc.). Several studies have used peanut shells (hulls) as a heavy metal adsorption material. For instance, peanut hulls are an effective biomass for the removal of copper (II) from aqueous systems. However, these studies utilized equilibrium (batch) methods to quantify metal adsorption. These results are not comparable to an industrial setting, which utilizes a non-equilibrium flow system. The biosorption of Cu on unmodified and modified, high density, ground peanut hulls was investigated using equilibrium studies, kinetics studies, and dynamic adsorption studies. Adsorption models were applied to determine the adsorption capacity at equilibrium. A pseudo-second order rate law was applied to the kinetics data to determine the rate constant of adsorption. Dynamic sorption models were applied to the continuous flow studies to fit the experimental breakthrough curves. It was determined that the alkaline peroxide modified, high density hulls had the highest