Adsorptive Removal of Congo Red Dye from Aqueous Solution Using Natural Clay in a Fixed Bed Column

The adsorptive capacity of natural clay, Smectite-illite, for the removal of Congo red dye was investigated in this study. To simulate industrial conditions, this study used a continuous sorption method. The shape of breakthrough curves was investigated for process parameters such as inlet flow rate, adsorbent bed height, and initial adsorbate concentration. As a fixed -bed column, a glass column with an internal diameter of 1.5 cm and a height of 30 cm was used. Different bed heights (5- 20 cm), influent flow rates (1.6- 8 mL/min), and influent CR concentrations (10 - 50 mg/L) at an influent pH of 7.5 were used in the experiments. It was noticed that when the bed depth increased, inlet concentration and flow velocity decreased, and exhaustion time increased. Adsorption capacity increases as bed depth and inlet concentration increase but decreases as flow rates increase. Thomas, Yoon-Nelson, and Clark's models were utilized to forecast the curves of breakthrough model parameters so as to better understand the essential process design and adsorption mechanisms. Based on regression coefficient studies and error analysis, all models for characterizing adsorption fixed -bed columns are comparable. Regenerated clay could be reused for CR adsorption successfully using distilled water heated to 60 degrees C.