Adsorption of acid dye onto woodmeal by solid diffusional mass transfer

The adsorption of Telon Blue (Acid Blue 25) dye onto wood has been studied using an agitated batch adsorber. The variables studied include agitation, initial dye concentration, wood mass, wood particle size and dye solution temperature. Isotherms were measured and the isotherm parameters were determined.

A mathematical model has been developed using the basis of the model proposed by Mathews and Weber Jr. This model is based on external mass transfer and solid-phase diffusion, and has been used to generate theoretical concentration—time decay curves. The results of the model were adjusted to the experimental data using a ‘best fit’ approach. The external mass transfer coefficient was found to vary with the degree of agitation, and consequently all other variables were considered at a constant agitation speed of 400 rev min⁻¹. A good agreement between the theoretical generated and the experimental concentration—time decay curves was achieved using a constant external mass transfer coefficient, 0.30 × 10⁻³ cm ⁻¹, and a constant solid-phase diffusivity, 0.200 × 10⁻⁸ cm² s⁻¹, for varying initial dye concentrations as well as wood mass. In experiments where the particle diameter was varied, a constant external mass transfer coefficient was sufficient to describe the system, but a decreasing diffusivity was required with increasing particle size. To simulate the effect of varying temperature, both external mass transfer coefficient and diffusivity were varied.