Adsorption of Phenol from Aqueous Solution Using Lantana camara, Forest Waste: Packed Bed Studies and Prediction of Breakthrough Curves

In this paper, the feasibility of the dry stem of Lantana camara waste as an adsorbent to remove phenol from aqueous solution was investigated in a packed-bed column. The effect of bed height (5, 10, 15 cm), initial phenol concentration (100, 150, 250 mg L^-1) and feed flow rate (10, 15, 20 mL min^-1) on the adsorption were studied by evaluating the breakthrough curves. The following models were used to assess the column performance: Thomas, Adams-Bohart, Yoon Nelson, Modified dose-response, linear driving force model based on fluid phase concentration difference (LDFC) and linear driving force model based on particle phase concentration difference (LDFQ). The Thomas model and the LDFC model were in good agreement with the experimental data. The bed depth service time (BDST) model was used to predict adsorption performance at other experimental conditions. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 149.77 mg g^-1, confirming that Lantana camara is a suitable adsorbent for the removal of phenol from aqueous solution.