Abstract
In this present research, an attempt has been made for performance analysis of a semifluidized bed (SFBR) column operation with a low-cost biomass based-adsorbent for the removal of phenol from synthetic aqueous solution and actual steel plant effluents. The solid phase of gas-solid-liquid SFBR operation was Ca-alginate-biochar composite adsorbent beads which were prepared from low-cost agricultural solid waste-derived sugarcane bagasse biochar capture in Calcium-alginate. In batch adsorption study, the various physicochemical process parameters like temperature, initial phenol concentration, pH and adsorbent doses were identified and its effects on the phenol adsorptive removal and adsorption mechanism were studied. In a semi-fluidized bed column (SFBR) operation, the effect of adsorbents loading (bed height), initial phenol concentration, and liquid flow rate on phenol removal efficiency were studied. The 65 % bed efficiency performance of the semifluidized bed system was found with actual raw steel plant effluents and BOD, COD, TS etc. are also removed during actual steel plant effluents treatment operation. Finally, a mass transfer dynamic model has been developed and the model predicts the degree of axial dispersion of the system and the overall mass transfer coefficient of the system. Results suggested that this three-phase semifluidized bed composite bed adsorption column operation is suitable for industrial phenol bearing wastewater treatment.