The investigation of removal of hexavalent chromium from wastewater in fixed bed column

The purpose of this study was the investigation of effectiveness of surfactant (oleylamine) modified Bigadiç clinoptilolite for the removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater in a fixed bed column. To that end, the Cr(VI) uptake capacity of the oleylamine modified clinoptilolite (O-H-Clinoptilolite) was investigated as a function of different operating conditions such as flow rate, initial Cr(VI) concentration and bed height. In addition, adsorption was characterized by using Thomas and BDST model. In the study, the external cation-exchange capacity (ECEC) and total cation-exchange capacity (CEC) values of clinoptilolite were determined by the method of Ming and Dixon. The ECEC and CEC values were calculated 0.296 meq/g and 1.02 meq/g in return. Afterwards for the modification, the oleylamine was used in amounts equal to the ECEC value of the clinoptilolite. Modified clinoptilolite was characterized by TGA (Thermal Gravimetric Analysis) and FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy). After modified clinoptilolite samples characterization, Cr(VI) uptake capacity of clinoptilolite was investigated in fixed bed column. Finally, the Thomas and BDST model was fitted to investigate the breakthrough behaviour of Cr(VI) onto clinoptilolite modified with oleylamine.