Environmental & Analytical Toxicology

Elimination of Nickel from Aqueous Solution Using Actived Carbon and Biofilm

Abstract

Mustapha Chabane and Benamar Dahmani

The main of this research was to study of the efficiency of using granular actived carbon (GAC), Biofilm and biological actived carbon (BAC) columns to treat low concentration of Nickel bearing water streams and the effects of temperature and pH on the adsorption isotherms. Studies were conducted to delineate the effect of pH, temperature, initial Ni and adsorbent concentration on adsorption of Ni2+ by GAC, BAC and Biofilm. Breakthrough curves for removal of 0.5 mg/L Ni2+ by GAC, Biofilm and BAC columns at two contact times were plotted. Batch adsorption and column data are compared, pH is shown to be the decisive parameter in Ni removal for GAC but not for BAC or biofilter. Lagergren plots confirms applicability of first-order rate expression for adsorption of Ni2+ by GAC, BAC and Biofilm.The adsorption coeficient(Kad) for BAC were 2-3 times greater than those with plain GAC. Bed Volumes of water containing 0.5 mg/L Ni2+ treated at breakthrough for GAC, Biofilm and BAC columns were 45 ml, 85 ml and 180 ml of Bed Volume respectively. BAC is more efficient than GAC in the removing of Ni from water environment.