Residence time distribution studies and modelling of phenol adsorption onto Lantana camara in packed bed

Adsorption is considered as the effective method for removing phenol from wastewater. The phenol adsorption can be carried out in batch and continuous mode. The residence time distribution (RTD) studies are necessary to study mixing, flow behavior inside the column and ideality of the system. Therefore, in the current work, RTD studies were carried out in a column packed with the adsorbent viz Lantana camra (forest waste), which causes threat to the ecosystem. The experiments were conducted for different flow rates of phenol by using sodium chloride as tracer. The performance equation of the column was obtained by making mass balance of solute in a bed volume element. The dispersion coefficient calculated from the RTD was used for calculating mass transfer coefficient. The calculated mass transfer coefficient was used for developing the correlation in terms of dimensionless groups Reynolds number and Sherwood number.