Ashutosh Mishra Brahma Dutt Tripathi Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India Proceedings of the International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences ISSN 2220-8860 http://www.iaees.org/publications/journals/piaees/online-version.asp 2016 6 4 119 127 International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences Hong Kong 13 June 2016 20 July 2016 1 December 2016 Bed Depth Service Time model breakthrough curve regeneration Thomas model Biosorption potential of thermally activated biosorbent prepared from Hydrilla verticillata biomass was investigated for the removal of Cu++, Zn++, Cd++ and Pb++ ions using a packed-bed column. Bed height (15-25 cm), flow rate (10-30 mL min-1) and influent metal concentrations (5-25 mg L-1) were variable parameters for the column study. Results revealed that highest bed height (25 cm), lowest flow rate (10 mL min-1) and lowest influent metal concentration (5 mg L-1) were favorable for column biosorption. The maximum biosorption capacity for Cu++, Zn++, Cd++ and Pb++ removal were observed to be 174.14, 184.36, 176.55 and 179.14 mg g-1 respectively. The breakthrough curves obtained from column process were successfully correlated with Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) and Thomas models. Regeneration studies revealed good reusability of activated biosorbent during three cycles of sorption and desorption studied. DOI 10.0000/issn-2220-8860-piaees-2016-v6-0013 http://www.iaees.org/publications/journals/piaees/articles/2016-6(4)/removal-of-metal-ions-from-aqueous-solutions.pdf