INVESTIGATION OF THE COLUMN PERFORMANCE OF CADMIUM(II) BIOSORPTION BYCLADOPHORA-CRISPATA FLOCS IN A PACKED-BED

In this study the biosorption of cadmium(II) ions to dried flocs of Cl adophora crispata, a kind of green algae, was investigated in a packed bed column. The cadmium(II) removal performance of the column was inv estigated as a function of the cadmium(II)-bearing solution flow rate and the inlet cadmium(II) concentration. Removal and total removal per centages of cadmium(II) related to flow volume were determined by eval uating the breakthrough curves obtained at three different flow rates for two different constant inlet concentrations. At the lowest flow ra te the effect of inlet cadmium(II) concentration on the column capacit y was also investigated. Data confirmed that early saturation and lowe r cadmium(II) removals were observed at higher flow rates and at highe r cadmium(II) concentrations. Column experiments also showed that maxi mum specific cadmium(II) uptake values of C, crispata flocs were as hi gher as those of other biomass sorbents.