Biosorption of chromium (III) by orange (Citrus cinensis) waste: Batch and continuous studies

The present study explores the ability of orange waste biomass to remove Cr (III) from aqueous solutions. Batch kinetic and isotherm studies were carried out on a laboratory scale to evaluate the adsorption capacity of orange waste. The effects of particle size, adsorbent dose and solution pH on Cr (III) removal were also studied. The results showed that the higher the adsorbent dosage and the pH, the higher the percentage of metal removal. No significant influence of particle size on sorption capacity was observed in the experimental conditions studied. A kinetic study revealed that the adsorption of Cr (III) onto orange waste was a gradual process and equilibrium was reached within 3 days. A pseudo-second order model was the most appropriate to describe the kinetic experimental data. Equilibrium assays displayed a maximum sorption capacity ranging from 0.57 mmol/g to 1.44 mmol/g when the pH increased from 3 to 5, according to the Sips model, which along with the Redlich-Peterson equation, is very suitable for correlating equilibrium data. The use of the studied adsorbent in the removal of chromium in continuous mode was successful and the breakthrough curves were adequately represented by BDST model. Due to the slow kinetics of chromium sorption onto orange waste, the sorption capacity in batch assays was higher than that in continuous assays. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.