Optimization of Removal Efficiency and Minimum Contact Time for Cadmium and Zinc Removal onto Iron-modified Zeolite in a Two-stage Batch Sorption Reactor

M. Ugrina, N. Vukojević Medvidović, M. Trgo and I. Nuić

Abstract
In highly congested industrial sites where significant volumes of effluents have to be treated in the minimum contact time, the application of a multi-stage batch reactor is suggested. To achieve better balance between capacity utilization and cost efficiency in design optimization, a two-stage batch reactor is usually the optimal solution. Thus, in this paper, a two-stage batch sorption design approach was applied to the experimental data of cadmium and zinc uptake onto iron-modified zeolite. The optimization approach involves the application of the Vermeulen’s approximation model and mass balance equation to kinetic data. A design analysis method was developed to optimize the removal efficiency and minimum total contact time by combining the time required in the two-stages, in order to achieve the maximum percentage of cadmium and zinc removal using a fixed mass of zeolite. The benefits and limitations of the two-stage design approach have been investigated and discussed. (This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Keywords
two-stage batch design, iron-modified zeolite, zinc, cadmium, optimisation