Abstract

This study focuses on the investigation of the performance of <em>Litchi chinensis sonn</em> peels in a simulated fixed bed column in sequestering Cr(VI) by breakthrough curve analysis using Aspen Adsorption® V8.4. The breakthrough curve analysis was conducted by: 1) varying initial concentration at a constant flow rate and constant bed height, 2) varying flow rate at a constant initial concentration and constant bed height, and 3) varying bed height at constant flow rate and constant initial concentration. The good adsorption capacity was implied by a longer breakthrough time so as to make use of the peels of <em>Litchi chinensis sonn</em> for a longer period of time before there was a need to replace or to regenerate. Increasing the volumetric flow rate at constant initial sorbate concentration and bed height increased the breakthrough time. Increasing the initial sorbate concentration at constant volumetric flow rate and bed height decreased the breakthrough time. Increasing the bed height at a constant volumetric flow rate and initial sorbate concentration increased the breakthrough time. Longer breakthrough time denotes a better adsorption capacity. The longest breakthrough time was 335 s with volumetric flowrate at 1x10^-3 L s^-1, initial sorbate concentration at 20 mg L^-1, and a bed height of 0.7 m. The shortest was 6.63 s with a volumetric flow rate at 1x10^-2 L s^-1, initial sorbate concentration at 200 mg L^-1, and a bed height of 0.2m.