Continuous fixed-bed studies for adsorptive remediation of phenol by garlic peel powder

Authors

• P. Muthamilselvi * ¹
• R. Karthikeyan ²
• Ashish Kapoor ¹
• S. Prabhakar ¹

1. Department of Chemical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India
2. Anjalai Ammal Mahalingam Engineering College, Kovilvenni, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

In the quest for eco-friendly and cost-effective adsorbents for the removal of phenol from aqueous systems, garlic peel has been identified as a potential candidate in our earlier study. In the current investigations, we have studied the performance of garlic peel powder in packed fixed-bed column, to assess its potential for real-time deployment for remediation of phenol-contaminated aqueous effluents. Accordingly, parametric studies were carried out with reference to feed concentration, bed height, and flow rate. The experiments indicated the suitability of garlic peel powder-packed columns for remediation of phenol present in aqueous effluents. Salient observations include the improvement of adsorption and remediation efficiency at lower feed flow rates. The assessment of the experimental data using different theoretical models indicated the applicability of Yoon–Nelson model for the adsorption of phenol by garlic peel powder.

Keywords

• Adsorption
• Phenol
• Aqueous effluent
• Column
• Garlic peel
• Remediation