Numerical simulation and experimental tests of removal of Fe (III) from water for use in food industry

ABSTRACT

In this study were performed the kinetics and isotherms of adsorption of the ions Fe (III) from synthetic affluent using activated carbon from coconut shell as adsorbent. The objective was to obtain the equilibrium and kinetic parameters of the process and thereby simulating different operating conditions in a adsorption column fixed bed. It was evaluated the influence of three temperatures different on the adsorption of Fe (III), in which the temperature increase indicated adsorption exotherm. The Freundlich isotherm showed the best fit to the experimental data. At the kinetic study the model that best fit to the experimental data was the model Pseudo-First Order for the three concentrations studied. The finite volume method was used for discretization of the mathematical equations and a computational algorithm was implemented in FORTRAN. The computational code was validated with experimental data found in the literature (maximum error of 6.2%) can thus simulate different operating conditions of the system.

Keywords:
adsorption; Fe (III); kinetic model; drinking water.