The removal of lead from water by red mud using batch and fixed-bed column adsorption
techniques was investigated. In a batch study, experiments indicated that the time to attain equilibrium
was 2h. The experimental data fitted well to a Langmuir adsorption isotherm and the adsorption capacity
was 18.87 mg/g. Fixed-bed column experiments were carried out for different influent lead
concentrations, bed depths, and various flow rates. The breakthrough time and exhaustion time decreased
with increasing flow rate, decreasing bed depth and increasing influent lead concentration. The bed depth
service time model and the Thomas model were applied to the experimental results. Both model
predictions were in good agreement with the experimental data for all the process parameters studied,
indicating that the models were suitable for red mud fix-bed column design.