The simulation of gold adsorption by carbon using a film diffusion model

Abstract

Experimental work showed that the adsorption of the aurocyanide ion by activated carbon is under film diffusion control until the carbon reaches 70 per cent of its equilibrium loading capacity. A rate expression based on the classical film diffusion rate expression is suggested and the model for the batch test developed. The proposed model is shown to simulate batch adsorption tests at different ratios of carbon mass to solution volume. The mass transfer coefficient was linked to the carbon particle size and agitation rato by the use of dimensionless numbers. Correlations are suggested for fixed beds, fluidized beds and rolling bottles. It was determined experimentally that, at equivalent Reynolds numbers, the fixed bed provides the optimum system for mass transfer.