Experimental and Numerical Comparison of Dispersion and Sorption of Cr(VI) on Maize Cane Biomass

Computational and theoretical modelling has become an important tool for the characterization, development, and validation of packed beds. Relevant breakthrough curves would provide much valuable information on designing a fixed bed adsorption process in field applications. In this study, the hydrodynamic properties involved in the Navier-Stokes flow equation, such as velocity, pressure, and permeability, in a packed bed were investigated. Experiments in natural porous media such as maize cane biomass for determining the sorption of Cr(VI) are compared with numerical simulations. The relevant ordinary partial equations were solved in COMSOL Multiphysics Software friendly and efficiently. The close agreement between the experimental and numerical results suggests that the theoretical model of advection-hydrodynamic dispersion can be used to model the transport of Cr(VI) in unsaturated porous media composed of maize cane biomass.