Abstract
The uptake capacity of Fe(III) ions by NaY zeolite was investigated in this work. Column experiments were undertaken on continuous systems at 30°C, pH = 3.5, employing a flow rate of 2 ml/min and an average particle size of 0.180 mm. The dynamic system exhibited a distinct ion-exchange mechanism which generated a favourable isotherm with an Fe(III) ion uptake of 2.16 mequiv/g. A mathematical model was also applied to represent the dynamics of the sorption process. The dynamic isotherm was successfully modelled by the Langmuir equation while the mathematical model gave a good description of the experimental dynamic data for feed concentrations ranging from 0.2 mequiv/l to 3.5 mequiv/l. The ion-exchange kinetics for Fe(III) ions were studied using the first-, second-order and Langmuir kinetic models.