Environ Eng Res > Volume 19(2); 2014 > Article
Lee, Park, Kang, Kim, Son, Yi, and Kim: Batch and Flow-Through Column Studies for Cr(VI) Sorption to Activated Carbon Fiber

### Abstract

The adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions to activated carbon fiber (ACF) was investigated using both batch and flow-through column experiments. The batch experiments (adsorbent dose, 10 g/L; initial Cr(VI) concentration, 5–500 mg/L) showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) to ACF was determined to 20.54 mg/g. The adsorption of Cr(VI) to ACF was sensitive to solution pH, decreasing from 9.09 to 0.66 mg/g with increasing pH from 2.6 to 9.9; the adsorption capacity was the highest at the highly acidic solution pHs. Kinetic model analysis showed that the Elovich model was the most suitable for describing the kinetic data among three (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich) models. From the nonlinear regression analysis, the Elovich model parameter values were determined to be α = 162.65 mg/g/h and β = 2.10 g/mg. Equilibrium isotherm model analysis demonstrated that among three (Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich–Peterson) models, both Freundlich and Redlich–Peterson models were suitable for describing the equilibrium data. In the model analysis, the Redlich–Peterson model fit was superimposed on the Freundlich fit. The Freundlich model parameter values were determined to be KF = 0.52 L/g and 1/n = 0.56. The flow-through column experiments showed that the adsorption capacities of ACF in the given experimental conditions (column length, 10 cm; inner diameter, 1.5 cm; flow rate, 0.5 and 1.0 mL/min; influent Cr(VI) concentration, 10 mg/L) were in the range of 2.35–4.20 mg/g. This study demonstrated that activated carbon fiber was effective for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions.

### 1. Introduction

Chromium (Cr) is a metallic element widely present in the earth. It is essential for metabolism of plants and animals, but, at certain high level, may cause health problems, such as skin dermatitis, bronchitis, diarrhea, haemorrhage, and cancer in the digestive tract and lungs [1]. Chromium can exist in oxidation states ranging from −2 to +6. In aquatic environments, trivalent Cr(III) and hexavalent Cr(VI) are the major forms of chromium. Cr(VI) exists as extremely soluble and highly toxic chromate ions (HCrO4, Cr2O72−), whereas Cr(III) is considered as relatively stable and less dangerous due to its low solubility and mobility in soils and aquifers [2].
Chromium contamination of drinking water resources is a serious environmental problem. In many countries, chromium is present in groundwater at concentrations exceeding the guidelines of the World Health Organization (0.05 mg/L), causing serious health problems [1]. Chromium is present in the effluents from electroplating, leather, mining, dyeing, fertilizer and photography industries [3]. Several methods are utilized to remove Cr(VI) from the industrial wastewater. Conventional separation techniques, such as electrochemical precipitation, slow sand filtration, ion exchange, reverse osmosis and solvent extraction, have many disadvantages including high cost, possible production of secondary toxic compounds, and generation of sludge leading to high disposal costs [4]. Adsorption separation has been widely used in environmental chemistry, owing to its relatively low cost, simplicity of design/operation and pollutant removal to low concentrations [3].
Activated carbon fiber (ACF) is a kind of activated carbons. ACF has thin-fiber shape with a diameter of 10 μm and contains inner porous network of mesopores and micropores [5]. ACF is widely applied for water purification because of fast intra-particle adsorption compared with powdered and granular forms of activated carbon [6]. ACF has been used for the removal of contaminants, such as heavy metals, organic compounds, microorganisms, and oxyanions, by many researchers [711]. Limited studies have been performed to use raw and/or functionalized ACF as an adsorbent for the removal of chromium from aqueous solutions [1214]. Aggarwal et al. [15] used both raw and nitric acid-treated ACF to perform adsorption isotherm studies for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) removal. Park et al. [16] examined the adsorption of Cr(VI) to surface functionalized ACF using kinetic batch experiments. Mohan et al. [17] performed the equilibrium and kinetic batch experiments to examine the Cr(III) adsorption to ACF. Further research works are needed to improve our knowledge regarding the performance of ACF in chromium removal from aqueous solutions.
The aim of this study was to investigate the adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions to ACF using both batch and flow-through column experiments and to compare with previously reported research works. The characteristics of ACF were elucidated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), nitrogen gas (N2) adsorption-desorption experiment, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. Batch experiments were performed to examine the effect of reaction time, initial Cr(VI) concentration, and pH on the adsorption of Cr(VI) to ACF. Kinetic and equilibrium isotherm models were used to analyze the batch experimental data. Flow-through experiments were performed to examine the removal of Cr(VI) in the columns containing ACF. Mathematical models were used to analyze the column experimental data.

### 2.1. Characterization of Activated Carbon Fiber

The cotton-based ACF was purchased from Korea Activated Carbon Fiber Ltd. FESEM analysis was performed using a field emission scanning electron microscope (SUPRA 55VP; Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany). N2 adsorption-desorption experiments were performed using a surface area analyzer (BELSORP-max; BEL Japan Inc., Osaka, Japan) after the sample was pretreated at 120°C. From the N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, the specific surface area, average pore diameter, total pore volume, and mesopore volume were determined by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda analyses. Infrared spectra were recorded on a Nicolet 6700 FTIR spectrometer (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) using KBr pellets.

### 2.2. Batch Experiments

The desired Cr(VI) solution was prepared by diluting the stocking Cr(VI) solution (1,000 mg/L), which was made from potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7). All batch experiments were performed in 50 mL polypropylene conical tubes without pH adjustment except the experiments of pH effect. Note that pH of 100 mg/L Cr(VI) solution was around 4.9. The first batch experiments were performed at different reaction times (adsorbent dose, 0.3 g in 30 mL; initial Cr(VI) concentration (C0), 100 mg/L). The tubes were shaken at 25°C and 100 rpm using a shaking incubator (Daihan Science, Wonju, Korea). In the experiments, samples were collected at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hr after reaction. The samples were filtered through a 0.45-μm membrane filter, and Cr(VI) concentration was measured by UV/Vis spectrophotometer (Helios, Thermo Scientific) using diphenylcarbazide method. The second batch experiments were conducted at different concentrations of Cr(VI) solution. The adsorbent (0.3 g) was added to 30 mL of Cr(VI) solution (initial Cr(VI) concentration, 5–500 mg/L). The samples were collected 24 hr after reaction. The third batch experiments (adsorbent dose, 0.3 g in 30 mL; initial Cr(VI) concentration, 100 mg/L) were conducted at various solution pH ranging from 2.6 to 9.9. The samples were collected 24 hr after reaction. In the pH experiments, 0.1 M NaOH and 0.1 M HCl solutions were used for adjusting the pH from 2.6 to 9.9. The pH was measured with a pH probe (9107BN, Thermo Scientific). All experiments were performed in triplicate.

### 2.3. Column Experiments

Flow-through column experiments were performed at two different flow conditions (flow rate, 0.5 and 1.0 mL/min) using a polyethylene column (column length, 10 cm; inner diameter, 1.5 cm) packed with ACF. Prior to the experiments, the packed column was flushed upward using a HPLC pump (Series II pump; Scientific Systems Inc., State College, PA, USA) with 10 bed volumes of deionized water until steady state flow conditions were established. Then, Cr(VI) solution was introduced downward continuously to the packed column. Portions of the effluent were collected using the auto collector (Retriever 500; Teledyne Isco Inc., Lincoln, NE, USA) at a regular interval up to 760 and 2,700 min in the column experiments 1 and 2, respectively. The concentration of Cr(VI) was measured by UV/Vis spectrophotometer (Helios, Thermo Scientific) using diphenylcarbazide method.

### 2.4. Data Analysis

All of the parameters of the models were estimated using MS Excel 2010 with the solver add-in function incorporated into the program. The model parameter values were determined by nonlinear regression. The determination coefficient (R2), chi-square coefficient (χ2), and sum of squared errors (SSE) were used to analyze the data and confirm the fit to the model. The expressions of R2, χ2, and SSE are given below:
##### (1)
$R2=∑i=1m(yc-y¯e)i2∑i=1m(yc-y¯e)i2+∑i=1m(yc-ye)i2$
##### (2)
$χ2=∑i=1m[(ye-yc)2yc]i$
##### (3)
$SSE=∑i=1m(ye-yc)i2$
where yc is the calculated adsorption capacity from the model, ye is the measured adsorption capacity from the experiment, and e is the average of the measured adsorption capacity.

### 3.1. Characteristics of ACF

The FESEM image of ACF showed that ACF had a thin-fiber shape with a diameter of 10 μm (Fig. 1(a)). From N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm (Fig. 1(b)), the BET surface area of ACF was determined to be 1,123.0 m2/g with total pore volume of 0.52 cm3/g, mesopore volume of 0.09 cm3/g, and average pore diameter of 1.85 nm. In the FTIR spectra (Fig. 1(c)), two peaks at 2,950 and 2,880 (/cm) corresponded to symmetric stretching vibrations of –CH2 and stretching vibrations of –CH, respectively. In addition, the band of C = O were observed at 1,680–1,720 (/cm) [10].

### 3.2. Effects of Reaction Time, Cr(VI) Concentration, and Solution pH

The effect of reaction time on the adsorption of Cr(VI) to ACF is shown in Fig. 2(a). At 1 hr of reaction time, the adsorption capacity was 2.71 mg/g with the percent removal of 28.5%. The adsorption capacity increased to 3.60 mg/g with the percent removal of 37.8% at 6 hr. At 12 hr, the adsorption capacity and percent removal were 3.92 mg/g and 41.1%, respectively. At 24 hr, the adsorption capacity was 4.31 mg/g with the percent removal of 45.2%. Similar results were reported by Park and Kim [13], who showed that adsorption percent of Cr(VI) to ACF increased from 3% to 27% with increasing reaction time from 10 to 180 min. Park and Jung [18] also reported that the percent removal of Cr(VI) in ACF increased from 49% to 87% as the reaction time increased from 10 to 180 min.
The effect of the initial concentrations of Cr(VI) on the Cr(VI) sorption to ACF is presented in Fig. 2(b). The Cr(VI) removal was highly concentration dependent. As the Cr(VI) concentration increased, the adsorption capacity increased rapidly. At the lowest concentration of 5 mg/L, the adsorption capacity was 0.42 mg/g. As the Cr(VI) concentration increased to 100 mg/L, the adsorption capacity increased to 4.09 mg/g. At the highest concentration of 500 mg/L, the adsorption capacity increased to 13.60 mg/g. Meanwhile, the percent removal decreased with increasing Cr(VI) concentration. The percent removal was 100% at 5 mg/L and decreased to 28.1% at 500 mg/L. Similar findings were reported by Aggarwal et al. [15] who showed that the amount of Cr(VI) adsorbed onto ACF increased gradually from 5 to 20 mg/g with increasing Cr(VI) concentration from 20 to 1,000 mg/L.
The effect of solution pH on the adsorption of Cr(VI) to ACF is given in Fig. 2(c). The adsorption capacity at pH 2.6 was 9.09 mg/g. At pH 4.0, the adsorption capacity was 4.43 mg/g. As the solution pH increased to 7.0, the adsorption capacity approached 1.20 mg/g. As the solution pH further increased to 9.9, the adsorption capacity reached 0.66 mg/g. In aqueous solution, Cr(VI) is present in the anionic forms, HCrO4 and CrO42−, depending on the pH. HCrO4 is dominant species of Cr(VI) at pH < 6, which gradually transformed into CrO42− as the pH increases [1]. The sorption of Cr(VI) to ACF was sensitive to solution pH with the highest adsorption capacity at the highly acidic solution pHs. This result could be attributed to the protonation of ACF surfaces at acidic pHs, resulting in the electrostatic attraction between positively-charged ACF surfaces and negatively-charged chromium ions (HCrO4). As the pH increased, the surfaces of ACF became negatively-charged, and so the electrostatic repulsion between ACF surfaces and chromium ions (CrO42−) became strong, resulting in the decrease of Cr(VI) sorption [19]. Note that the point of zero charge (pHpzc) of ACF was reported to be 4.3 [20]. Our result agreed well with the report of Ko and Choi [14] who showed that Cr(VI) adsorption to ACF decreased from 1.3 mmol/g to near zero with increasing pH from 1.5 to 12.7. Other researchers also reported that the adsorption of Cr(VI) to ACF was maximal at pH 3 and decreased with increasing pH [12].

### 3.3. Kinetic, Intra-particle Diffusion, and Equilibrium Isotherm Model Analyses

The reaction time data were analyzed using the following nonlinear forms of pseudo-first-order (Eq. (4)), pseudo-second-order (Eq. (5)), and Elovich (Eq. (6)) kinetic models:
##### (4)
$qt=qe(1-e-k1t)$
##### (5)
$qt=k2qe2t1+k2qet$
##### (6)
$qt=1βln(αβ)+1βln t$
where qt is the amount of Cr(VI) removed at time t, qe is the amount of Cr(VI) removed per unit mass of adsorbent at equilibrium, k1 is the pseudo-first-order rate constant, k2 is the pseudo-second-order velocity constant, α is the initial adsorption rate constant, and β is the Elovich adsorption constant.
The kinetic data and model fits for Cr(VI) sorption to ACF are shown in Fig. 3. Model parameters for the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich models are provided in Table 1. In the pseudo-first-order model, the value of qe was 3.81 mg/g, and the value of k1 was 1.11 (/hr). The value of qe from the pseudo-second-order model was larger than that from the pseudo-first-order model. The value of qe was 4.12 mg/g, and the value of k2 was 0.42 g/mg/hr, respectively. In the Elovich model, the values of α and β were 162.65 mg/g/hr and 2.10 g/mg, respectively. The values of R2, χ2, and SSE indicate that the Elovich model was the most suitable for describing the data.
The reaction time data were also analyzed by the following intra-particle diffusion model:
##### (7)
$qt=Kit1/2+I$
where Ki is the intra-particle diffusion rate constant, and I is the intercept related to the thickness of the boundary layer. The kinetic sorption data analyzed by the intra-particle diffusion model is shown in Fig. 4, indicating that the plots were composed of two line segments. The first line in the plot indicates boundary layer adsorption, while the second line describes the intra-particle diffusion [21]. Model parameters for the intra-particle diffusion model are presented in Table 2. The diffusion model was well fitted to the data, with coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.905 (first line) and 0.998 (second line). Values of Ki for the first and second lines were 0.57 and 0.26 mg/g/hr1/2, respectively. The first line in the plot indicates boundary layer adsorption, while the second line describes the intra-particle diffusion [21].
The Cr(V) concentration data were analyzed using the following nonlinear forms of Freundlich (Eq. (8)), Langmuir (Eq. (9)), and Redlich–Peterson (Eq. (10)) isotherm models:
##### (8)
$qe=KFCe1/n$
##### (9)
$qe=QmKLCe1+KL Ce$
##### (10)
$qe=KRCe1+aR Ceg$
where Ce is the concentration of Cr(VI) in the aqueous solution at equilibrium, KF is the distribution coefficient, 1/n is the Freundlich constant, Qm is the maximum mass of Cr(VI) removed per unit mass of adsorbent (removal capacity), KL is the Langmuir constant related to the binding energy, KR is the Redlich–Peterson constant related to the adsorption capacity, aR is the Redlich–Peterson constant related to the affinity of the binding sites, and g is the Redlich–Peterson constant related to the adsorption intensity.
The equilibrium data and isotherm model fits for Cr(VI) sorption to ACF are shown in Fig. 5. The equilibrium isotherm parameters for the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Redlich–Peterson models are summarized in Table 3. The values of R2, χ2, and SSE indicate that both Freundlich and Redlich–Peterson models were suitable for describing the data. Note that the Redlich–Peterson model fit was superimposed on the Freundlich fit (Fig. 5). The Redlich–Peterson model can be reduced to the Freundlich model if KR and aR are much greater than unity [22]. In the Freundlich model, the value of KF was 0.52 L/g, which corresponded well to the value of KR/aR in the Redlich–Peterson model. The value of 1/n was equivalent to the value (0.56) of (1–g). The adsorption capacity (qm) was calculated from KF and 1/n using the following equation [23]:
##### (11)
$qm=KFC01/n$
The value of qm was calculated to be 6.85 mg/g. From the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacity (qm) was determined to be 20.54 mg/g, which was in the ranges of the Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of raw ACF and surface-modified ACF (0.138–45 mg/g) reported in the literature [7, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18].

### 3.4. Cr(VI) Removal in Flow-Through Conditions

The BTCs of Cr(VI) obtained from the flow-through column experiments are shown in Fig. 6. The experimental conditions and results are presented in Table 4. In the column experiments, the empty bed contact time (EBCT, min) was determined as following:
##### (12)
$EBCT=VrQ$
where Vr is the fixed-bed volume, and Q is the volumetric flow rate. The total mass of Cr(VI) injected into column (Mtotal) during the experiment was calculated as following:
##### (13)
$Mtotal=C0Qttotal1000$
where C0 is the influent concentration of Cr(VI), and ttotal is the total flow time. The column capacity for Cr(VI) removal at a given flow rate and influent concentration of Cr(VI) (Ccap) was quantified as following:
##### (14)
$Ccap=Q1000∫t=0t=ttotal(C0-C) dt$
where C is the effluent concentration of Cr(VI). The mass of Cr(VI) removed per unit mass of filter materials in the column (qa) was determined as following:
##### (15)
$qa=CcapMf$
where Mf is the mass of filter materials in the column.
In the case of Exp. 1, no breakthrough of Cr(VI) was observed from the experiment until 30 min. The effluent concentration of Cr(VI) rose slowly up to 150 min and then increased drastically with time, reaching the half (5.0 mg/L) of the influent concentration at 360 min. Thereafter, the effluent concentration of Cr(VI) remained relatively constant at 5.1–5.2 mg/L until 760 min. In Exp. 1, the Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of ACF in the column was determined to be 2.35 mg/g. In the case of Exp. 2, no breakthrough of Cr(VI) was observed until 240 min. The effluent concentration of Cr(VI) increased gradually up to 1,020 min and then fluctuated between 4.5–4.9 mg/L up to 2,700 min. In Exp. 2, the Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of ACF in the column was calculated to be 4.20 mg/g, which was 1.8 times greater than that of Exp. 1. Note that the EBCT of Exp. 2 (35.4 min) was larger than that (17.7 min) of Exp.1 (Table 4). The Cr(VI) adsorption capacities from the flow-through column experiments were one order of magnitude lower than that (20.54 mg/g) from the batch experiments. This result could be attributed to the fact that the contact time between an adsorbent (ACF) and a contaminant (Cr(VI)) in the flow-through column experiment was far shorter than that in the batch experiment.

### 4. Conclusions

In this study, the sorption of Cr(VI) to ACF was examined using batch and column experiments. The batch experiments showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) to ACF was 20.54 mg/g. The adsorption of Cr(VI) to ACF was sensitive the sorption of Cr(VI) to ACF was sensitive to solution pH with the highest adsorption capacity at the highly acidic solution pHs. Kinetic model analysis showed that the Elovich model was the most suitable for describing the kinetic data. Equilibrium isotherm model analysis demonstrated that both Freundlich and Redlich–Peterson models were suitable for describing the equilibrium data. The column experiments showed that the adsorption capacities of ACF were in the range of 2.35–4.20 mg/g in the given experimental conditions. This study demonstrated that ACF was effective for the removal of Cr(VI) in the batch and flow-through column conditions.

### Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education, Republic of Korea (No. 2013-008829).

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##### Fig. 1
Activated carbon fiber used in the experiments: (a) field emission scanning electron microscope image (bar = 100 μm); (b) N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm; (c) Fourier transformed infrared spectra.
##### Fig. 2
Cr(VI) removal by activated carbon fiber: (a) effect of reaction time, (b) effect of initial Cr(VI) concentration, and (c) effect of solution pH.
##### Fig. 3
Kinetic model analysis. Model parameters are provided in Table 1.
##### Fig. 4
Intra-particle diffusion model analysis. Model parameters are provided in Table 2.
##### Fig. 5
Equilibrium isotherm model analysis. Model parameters are provided in Table 3.
##### Fig. 6
Breakthrough curves of Cr(VI) obtained from flow-through column experiments. Experimental conditions and results are provided in Table 4.
##### Table 1
Kinetic model parameters obtained from model fitting to experimental data
Pseudo-first-order Pseudo-second-order Elovich

qe (mg/g) k1 (/hr) R2 SSE χ2 qe (mg/g) k2 (g/mg/hr) R2 SSE χ2 α (mg/g/hr) β (g/mg) R2 SSE χ2
3.81 1.11 0.695 0.487 0.129 4.12 0.42 0.903 0.159 0.042 162.65 2.10 0.987 0.022 0.007
##### Table 2
Intra-particle diffusion model parameters obtained from model fitting to experimental data

Ki,1 (mg/g/hr0.5) I R2 Ki,2 (mg/g/hr0.5) I R2
0.57 2.26 0.905 0.26 3.03 0.998
##### Table 3
Equilibrium isotherm model parameters obtained from model fitting to experimental data
Langmuir Freundlich Redlich-Peterson

qm (mg/g) KL (L/mg) R2 SSE χ2 KF (L/g) 1/n R2 SSE χ2 KR (L/g) aR (L/mg) KR/aR (mg/g) g R2 SSE χ2
20.54 0.0057 0.985 2.123 1.824 0.52 0.56 0.987 1.840 1.104 1,255.89 2,401.28 0.52 0.44 0.987 1.840 1.104
##### Table 4
Flow-through column experimental conditions and results for Cr(VI) removal by activated carbon fiber
Exp. Vr (cm3) Q (mL/min) EBCT (min) ttotal (min) C0 (mg/L) Mtotal (mg) Ccap (mg) Mf (g) qa (mg/g)
1 17.7 1.0 17.7 760 10 7.6 4.68 1.99 2.35
2 17.7 0.5 35.4 2,700 10 13.5 8.35 1.99 4.20
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