Effect of temperature on packed bed column adsorption performance for the treatment of contaminated water

Victor Chukwuemeka Ukpaka, Abraham Peter Ukpaka and Chukwuemeka Peter Ukpaka

Abstract

The performance of the agro-based adsorbents of Plantain Stem Room Temperature Dried (PSRTD), Palm Fruit Fibre Room Dried (PFFRD) and Banana Stem Room Temperature Dried (BSRTD) was tested to monitor the potential of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) removal in packed bed units connected in series. The batch-wise process was conducted using crude oil and the operational condition included varying the temperature from the range of 15 ^oC to 120 ^oC. The research predicted an increase in Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) removal from temperatures above 15 ^oC to 45 ^oC and in some cases up to 60 ^oC. In most cases above the temperature range of 45 ^oC to 60 ^oC, the rate of TPH removal decreases, because of the low potential of the adsorbents to adsorb the total petroleum hydrocarbon content present in the contaminated water. Furthermore, the contaminated water phase and the molecular characteristics differ at this stage, which influences the adsorbent's performance and their potential in the percentage mitigation of the TPH removal in the treatment units connected in series. The comparison of the different adsorbents used has demonstrated that PSRTD > PFFRD > BSRTD. This research has shown that all three adsorbents are promising for the treatment of contaminated water media.