This study focuses on the dynamic behavior of ammonium ion uptake during continuous operation with respect to liquid by means of ion exchange with a natural zeolite in fluidized and segregated fluidized beds. The major operating variables affecting the performance in both types of fluidized beds are particle size, bed expansion, and flow rate. Use of particles of about 300 μm size in monodispersed fluidized beds resulted in breakthrough capacities of about 0.5 meq/g or higher, with contact times in the order of 0.7À5.5 min. The column efficiencies in terms of breakthrough capacity/total capacity were in the order of 0.42À0.61. The segregated fluidized bed, as achieved by using two nonmixing particle size fractions, is a hybrid fluidized bed consisting of an expanded bed with reduced mixing which is topped by a regular fluidized bed. Segregation increased the column efficiency to 0.69 when a combination of 250À300 and 500À600 μm sized particles were fluidized with a contact time of 1 min. The breakthrough capacities for the segregated fluidized beds with the finer particle size combination were 0.60À0.89 meq/g. A new representation of the breakthrough curves in terms of C/C 0 versus a dimensionless time t/t f suggests that these plots are a valuable tool for comparing performances for a wide variety of experimental conditions. The results of this study indicate that fluidization can well be applied to ion exchange operations to accommodate high influent flow rates.

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Spouted beds are fluid-particle contactors in which the fluid is introduced centrally through a nozzle instead of a distributor plate, resulting in a regular particle circulation pattern. To assess the suitability of such sytems to environmental engineering applications such as filter backwashing and biofilm systems, a priori knowledge of the energy dissipation parameters is essential. A new model is developed for evaluating the energy dissipation parameters inside the draft tube of spout-fluid beds. The shear stress, velocity gradient, and turbulence fluctuation parameters in the draft tube of a liquid spout-fluid bed are calculated with the help of an energy equation for flows carrying suspensions and the experimentally determined pressure losses inside the draft tube and compared with results for particulately fluidized beds. A spout-fluid bed with a draft tube provides higher shear stress inside the draft tube than a fluidized bed. The mean velocity gradient in the draft tube is comparable to and higher than in a fluidized bed and increases with solids fraction. The turbulence dissipation coefficient decreases very slightlywith increasing solids fraction for both systems. Consequently, according to the model calculations, a spout-fluid bed with a draft tube can be an alternative to the classical fluidized bed filter backwashing system.