Oil removal in a biosorption column using immobilized M. rouxii biomass

ABSTRACT

A continuous column study was carried out using immobilized Mucor rouxii biomass beads as a biosorbent for the removal of oil from water. Three oils were used in the study—standard mineral oil, canola oil, and Bright-Edge 80 cutting oil. Column data were examined using Thomas, Yan, Yoon–Nelson, Wolborska, Belter, and Chu models. Thomas, Yan, and Yoon–Nelson models were found suitable for describing column behavior for all the three oils studied. The sorbed oil was desorbed from the beads using deionized water. After column regeneration, the beads could be reused to remove oil to the extent of initial capacity.

Keywords:

• Biosorption
• Oil
• Mucor rouxii
• Breakthrough
• Column

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for financial support for the study through a grant to the second author.