Abstract
In this study, batch and column experiments were conducted to adsorb Aluminium (Al3+) from aqueous solution. The study examined the possibility of using proposed reactive filter bed media (packed with hematite or hematite sand mixture) for contaminated water treatment. Batch experiments were carried out at pH 7 +/- 0.5 and initial Al(3+)concentration of 1.5 mg/L. Adsorption equilibrium was achieved in more than 2 hours for hematite and 1 hour for hematite coated sand while conducting batch experiment and the maximum adsorptionq(m)was found to be 3.38 mg/g for hematite mixture sand. From column experiment, the maximum Al adsorption capacity from four different columns was calculated to be approximately 2.2 mg/g and it was found in columns 1 and 3 packed with hematite sand mixture particles. The results indicated that both electrostatic attraction and chemical sorption could be the mechanism for Al(3+)removal by hematite sand mixture particles from aqueous solution. Redox values (250 to 300 mV) inside column 3 suggested oxidizing condition during column operation. The continuous changes in redox potential (E-h) and pH indicated the occurrence of redox reactions between Al(3+)and reactive media under the prevailing experimental conditions.