Design of biocolumns with dry and crushed biomass of E. crassipes for the treatment of water contaminated with Cr (VI)

Abstract

Much research worldwide focuses on finding processes and materials with enough capacity to decontaminate water efficiently and cheaply. With dry and crushed cellulose from the E. crassipes plant, experiments are carrying out on a laboratory scale with interesting results due to its plenty and efficiency in the retention of pollutants, but the implementation in the industry of these processes with this biomass for the treatment of its effluents It has been a bit wasteful. The objective of this research is to design bio-columns with dry and crushed biomass of E. crassipes for the treatment of water contaminated with Cr (VI), where it was transforming with iron chloride to favor the cation exchange capacity. The adsorption process was experimenting on a batch laboratory scale to determine the adsorption capacities through the Langmuir isotherms. With these capacities, the experimental set-up of the biofilter was designing on a pilot scale and subsequently, a material balance was carrying out to determine the volume necessary for the efficient removal of Chromium (VI). A biocolumn system with E. crassipes material was building for the effective treatment of 85 % of chromium (VI) and a biocolumn with E. crassipes with iron for treatment of around 95 % of chromium present in the water. Concluding that this treatment system has high reliability to remove water contaminated with chromium (VI).