Dynamic Removal of Nickel (II) on Elaeis guineensis Waste Bed: Study of the Breakage Curve and Simulation

Abstract

This research focused on the use of residual fiber from oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) for Ni (II) adsorption in a packed bed column. An analysis was conducted on the effect and statistical incidence of changes in temperature, adsorbent particle size, and bed height on the adsorption process. The results showed that particle size and bed height significantly affect the adsorption of Ni (II) ions, reaching adsorption efficiencies between 87.24 and 99.86%. A maximum adsorption capacity of 13.48 mg/g was obtained in the bed with a break time of 180 min. The Ni (II) adsorption in the dynamic system was evaluated by the analysis of the breakage curve with different theoretical models: Yoon–Nelson, dose–response, and Adams–Bohart; the dose–response model was the most appropriate to describe the behavior of the packed bed with an R2 of 84.56%. The breakthrough curve obtained from Aspen Adsorption® appropriately describes the experimental data with an R2 of 0.999. These results indicate that the evaluated bioadsorbent can be recommended for the elimination of Ni (II) in aqueous solutions in a dynamic system, and the simulation of the process can be a tool for the scalability of the process.