Adsorption Breakthrough Curves for Alkaline-Earth Metal Ions on the Resins in a Fixed-Bed Column

A column sorption study was carried out by using four resins (D113, D001, LS-1000, LS-5000) for the adsorption of alkaline-earth metal ions from aqueous solutions. The breakthrough curve was obtained as a function of feed flow rate, and the total and breakthrough capacity values of the resins were calculated. Four kinetic models: Adams-Bohart, Wolborska and Thomas models were applied to experimental data to predict the breakthrough curves of Na-form resins and to determine the characteristic parameters of the column useful for process design. All models were found suitable for describing the whole or a definite part of the dynamic behavior of the column with respect to flow rate and inlet ion concentration. The results obtained would be helpful for the understanding of the competitive adsorption processes and the recovery or removal of one or more alkaline-earth metal ions from aqueous solutions.