Heavy metals removal in fixed-bed column by the macro fungus Pycnoporus sanguineus

The ability of Pycnoporus sanguineus to adsorb heavy metals from aqueous so lution was investigated in fixed-bed column studies. The experiments were c onducted to study the effect of important design parameters such as column bed height, flow rate and initial concentration of solution. The breakthrou gh profiles were obtained in these studies. A mathematical model based on e xternal mass transfer and pore diffusion was used for the prediction of mas s transfer coefficient and effective diffusivity of metals in macro-fungi b ed. Experimental breakthrough profiles were compared with the simulated bre akthrough profiles obtained from the mathematical model. Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) model was used to analyse the experimental data and evaluated t he performance of biosorption column. The BDST model parameters needed for the design of biosorption columns were evaluated for lead, copper and cadmi um removal in the column. The columns were regenerated by eluting the metal ions using 0.1 M hydrochloric acid solution after the adsorption studies. The columns were subjected to repeated cycles of adsorption of same metal i ons and desorption to evaluate the removal efficiency after adsorption-deso rption. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.