SIMULATION OF ADSORPTION PROCESS OF IRON PRESENT IN WATER SUPPLY OF FOOD INDUSTRY

Abstract

Adsorption processes have been quite effective when removing contaminants from liquid streams, especially in water treatment. This paper aims to present a phenomenological model which describes the process of iron removal by adsorption in a fixed bed column, by using NaY zeolite as adsorbent. The mathematical model considers the resistance to mass transfer inside and outside the adsorbent particle. The Finite Volumes Method was used in the discretization of differential equations that describe the phenomenon, thereby creating a computational code developed from the mathematical modeling. The numerical results obtained by simulation have been compared in order to obtain a good correlation, compared to experimental data in the literature. The formulation of the computational code provides an important tool for the design of adsorptive columns, in which can be dimensioned to industrial scale.