Title: An experimental investigation of sorption of copper on sandy soil by laboratory batch and column experiments

Authors: Provat K. Saha; A.B.M. Badruzzaman

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh ' Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract: In this study, the sorption and transport behaviour of copper in sandy soil has been studied by laboratory batch and column experiments. Partitioning coefficient (k_d) of copper on sandy soil has been determined by laboratory flow-through (or column) method. Analytical model CXTFIT (2.0) (Toride et al., 1995) and the method of moment (MOM) solutions of Das and Kluitenberg (1996) were used to determine the transport parameters of the column experiments. Results from this study show that sorption behaviour of copper in sandy soil varies with different factors like pH, ionic strength, presence of organic matter in soil, etc. High regression coefficients (r²) suggest that both Langmuir and Freundlich models are suitable for describing the sorption of copper, but it is limited to low to neutral pH range. Pseudo second order kinetic model can describe the copper sorption kinetics more accurately compared to pseudo first order kinetic model. The calculated partitioning coefficient (K_d) value of copper from column experiments data is found to be dependent on input copper concentration.

Keywords: copper sorption; retardation factor; partitioning coefficient; K_d; batch experiment; column experiment; sandy soil; kinetic modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2014.059613

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2014 Vol.13 No.2, pp.160 - 178

Received: 27 Jun 2012
Accepted: 28 Dec 2012
Published online: 13 May 2014 *

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