COLUMN STUDY OF CADMIUM ADSORPTION ONTO POLYACRYLONITRILE/HYDROXYAPATITE COMPOSITE BEAD

Abstract

Macroporous polyacrylonitrile/hydroxyapatite (PAN/HAp) composite bead was studied for cadmium removal in a fixed-bed column. The morphology of PAN/HAp composite bead was measured. The adsorption performance of PAN/HAp composite bead in the column was examined by varying bed height and HAp amount in PAN bead. The maximum adsorption capacity and the exhaustion time were determined from the breakthrough curves. Experimental data was described using the Adams-Bohart model. Bed height did not exert large influence on the maximum adsorption capacity and the exhaustion time. The kinetic rate constant and the adsorption capacity of the bed were found to be affected by the total HAp amount.