Fixed-bed adsorption of tricaine methanesulfonate onto pyrolysed paper mill sludge

Abstract

The removal of Tricaine Methanesulfonate from water in a fixed-bed column packed with pyrolysed papermill sludge was evaluated for application in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems. Breakthrough adsorptioncurves were determined for this pharmaceutical, under different operating conditions. In a laboratory-scale approach, with synthetic effluent, a bed adsorption capacity of 125 mg g−1was obtained under a fluxof 56 L min−1m−2, with 400 mg L−1of MS-222 with 4.5 cm bed depth. The performance of the continuousadsorption in a column packed with biological paper mill sludge-based carbon, using real aquaculturewastewater as matrix, was not significantly affected. Then, scale-up was carried out and the bed depthservice time model was applied and provided good predictions. Finally, the thermal regeneration of theexhausted adsorbent was assessed, which revealed satisfactory results for one cycle reusability aftersaturation; however, considering the nature of its precursor, the use of new adsorbent could be moreprofitable than its regeneration, functioning also as an additional option for the management of suchwastes.