Response surface optimization of the removal of nickel from aqueous solution by cone biomass of Pinus sylvestris

Unlocking Cd(II) biosorption potential of Candida tropicalis XTA 1874 for sustainable wastewater treatment

Cd(II) is a potentially toxic heavy metal having carcinogenic activity. It is becoming widespread in the soil and groundwater by various natural and anthropological activities. This is inviting its immediate removal. The present study is aimed at developing a Cd(II) resistant strain isolated from contaminated water body and testing its potency in biological remediation of Cd(II) from aqueous environment. The developed resistant strain was characterized by SEM, FESEM, TEM, EDAX, FT-IR, Raman Spectral, XRD and XPS analysis. The results depict considerable morphological changes had taken place on the cell surface and interaction of Cd(II) with the surface exposed functional groups along with intracellular accumulation. Molecular contribution of critical cell wall component has been evaluated. The developed resistant strain had undergone Cd(II) biosorption study by employing adsorption isotherms and kinetic modeling. Langmuir model best fitted the Cd(II) biosorption data compared to the Freundlich one. Cd(II) biosorption by the strain followed a pseudo second order kinetics. The physical parameters affecting biosorption were also optimized by employing response surface methodology using central composite design. The results depict remarkable removal capacity 75.682 ± 0.002% of Cd(II) by the developed resistant strain from contaminated aqueous medium using 500 ppm of Cd(II). Quantitatively, biosorption for Cd(II) by the newly developed resistant strain has been increased significantly (p < 0.0001) from 4.36 ppm (non-resistant strain) to 378.41 ppm (resistant strain). It has also shown quite effective desorption capacity 87.527 ± 0.023% at the first desorption cycle and can be reused effectively as a successful Cd(II) desorbent up to five cycles. The results suggest that the strain has considerable withstanding capacity of Cd(II) stress and can be employed effectively in the Cd(II) bioremediation from wastewater.

A vertical-flow constructed wetland-microalgal membrane photobioreactor integrated system for treating high-pollution-load marine aquaculture wastewater: A lab-scale study

Individual biological water treatment techniques often prove ineffective in removing accumulated high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the late stages of biofloc aquaculture. To address this issue, we integrated a previously developed autotrophic denitrification and nitrification integrated constructed wetland (ADNI-CW) with a microalgal membrane photobioreactor (MPBR). Under high nitrogen and phosphorus pollution loads in the influent, the standalone ADNI-CW system achieved removal rates of only 24.17 % ± 2.82 % for total nitrogen (TN) and 25.30 % ± 2.59 % for total phosphorus (TP). The optimal conditions for TN and TP degradation and microalgal biomass production in the Chlorella MPBR, determined using response surface methodology, were an inoculum OD680 of 0.394, light intensity of 161.583 μmol/m2/s, and photoperiod of 16.302 h light:7.698 h dark. Under the optimal operating conditions, the integrated ADNI-CW-MPBR system achieved remarkable TN and TP removal rates of 92.63 % ± 2.8 % and 77.46 % ± 8.41 %, respectively, and a substantial microalgal biomass yield of 54.58 ± 6.8 mg/L/day. This accomplishment signifies the successful achievement of efficient nitrogen and phosphorus removal from high-pollution-load marine aquaculture wastewater along with the acquisition of valuable microalgal biomass. A preliminary investigation of the microbial community composition and algal-bacterial interactions in different operational stages of the MPBR system revealed that unclassified_d__Bacteria, Chlorophyta, and Planctomycetes were predominant phyla. The collaborative relationships between bacteria and Chlorella surpassed competition, ensuring highly efficient nitrogen and phosphorus removal in the MPBR system. This study laid the foundation for the green and sustainable development of the aquaculture industry.

Sequestration of strontium, nickel, and cadmium on glomalin-related soil protein: Interfacial behaviors and ecological functions

Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) is a widespread recalcitrant soil protein complex that promotes the immobilization of metals in soils. Herein, we combined indoor simulation and field investigation to reveal the interfacial behaviors and ecological functions of GRSP to the three typical metals (Sr(II), Ni(II), and Cd(II)). The kinetic and isotherm data suggested that GRSP had a strong ability to adsorb the metals, which was closely related to the Hard-Soft-Acid-Base theory and the film diffusion mechanisms. Regarding environmental factors, the higher solution pH was beneficial to the adsorption of the metals onto GRSP, while the adsorption capacity decreased at lower or higher salinity due to the salting-out and Na⁺ competition effects. Moreover, Sr(II), Ni(II), and Cd(II) showed competitive adsorption onto GRSP, which was associated with the spatial site resistance effect. By comparing the retention factors of seven natural and artificial particles, GRSP had elevated distribution coefficients in high metal concentration, while its retention factors showed a relatively lower decrease, suggesting that GRSP had excellent buffer performance for a potential metal pollution emergency. Through the continental-scale coastal regions investigation, GRSP sequestered 1.05-3.11 μmol/g Ni, 0.31-1.49 μmol/g Sr, and 0.01-0.06 μmol/g Cd with 0.54-0.91 % of the sediment mass, demonstrating its strong ability to adsorb the metals. Therefore, we advocate that GRSP, as a recalcitrant protein complex, can be considered an effective tool for buffering capacity of metal pollution and environmental capacity within coastal wetlands.

Development of a potassium-based soil washing solution using response surface methodology for efficient removal of cesium contamination in soil

The overuse of chelating soil washing agents for removal of heavy metal can release soil nutrients and negatively affect organisms. Therefore, developing novel washing agents that can overcome these shortcomings is necessary. In this study, we tested potassium as a main solute of novel washing agent for cesium-contaminated field soil, owing to the physicochemical similarities between potassium and cesium. Response surface methodology was combined with a four-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design to determine the superlative washing conditions of the potassium-based solution for the removal of cesium from the soil. The parameters that were considered were the following: potassium concentration, liquid-to-soil ratio, washing time, and pH. Twenty-seven sets of experiments were conducted using the Box-Behnken design, and a second-order polynomial regression equation model was obtained from the results. Analysis of variance proved the significance and goodness of fit of the derived model. Three-dimensional response surface plots displayed the results of each parameter and their reciprocal interactions. The washing conditions that achieved the highest cesium removal efficiency (81.3%) in field soil contaminated at 1.47 mg/kg were determined to be the following: a potassium concentration of 1 M, a liquid-to-soil ratio of 20, washing time of 2 h, and a pH of 2.

Diamond in the rough: Polishing waste polyethylene terephthalate into activated carbon for CO2 capture

The scientific community has believed the potential of waste PET plastics as an effective carbon precursor, however, developing PET-derived activated carbons (PETACs) for a specific application is still a challenge we are facing. To overcome the limitation, a whole chain from development method screening to experiments design, finally to sample optimization, for a sample with promising performance, is proposed in this work. By employing PETACs as CO₂ adsorbents, the waste PET plastics, which we believed the "diamond in the rough", have been polished successfully. Therewith the problems of plastic pollution and the greenhouse effect could be simultaneously solved. The first half part of this paper is a mini review: the PETACs development methods were reviewed and the most suitable solution to develop CO₂ adsorbent, i.e., the two-step chemical activation method, was selected. In addition to that, the necessary procedure variables and their value range were determined. In the second half part, the central composite design method was applied for experiments design in which the procedure variables obtained were regarded as the independent indicators (factors here) while the performance indicators, including yield, CO₂ adsorption uptake, and CO₂ over N₂ selectivity, were treated as the dependent indicators (responses here). The responses were obtained through the characterization of the samples developed and statistical analysis could be applied to reveal the relations between the factors and responses. A high-value PETAC, P600K600-1.5, with the highest gas selectivity (22.189) and decent CO₂ adsorption uptake (3.933 mmol/g) was successfully designed.

Optimization of Fluoride Adsorption on Acid Modified Bentonite Clay Using Fixed-Bed Column by Response Surface Method

Using small-scale batch tests, various researchers investigated the adsorptive removal of fluoride using low-cost clay minerals, such as Bentonite. In this study, Column adsorption studies were used to investigate the removal of fluoride from aqueous solution using acid-treated Bentonite (ATB). The effects of initial fluoride concentration, flow rates, and bed depth on fluoride removal efficiency (R) and adsorption capability (qe) in continuous settings were investigated, and the optimal operating condition was determined using central composite design (CCD). The model's suitability was determined by examining the relationship between experimental and expected response values. The analysis of variance was used to determine the importance of independent variables and their interactions. The optimal values were determined as the initial concentration of 5.51 mg/L, volumetric flow rate of 17.2 mL/min and adsorbent packed-bed depth of 8.88 cm, with % removal of 100, adsorptive capacity of 2.46 mg/g and desirability of 1.0. This output reveals that an acid activation of Bentonite has made the adsorbent successful for field application.

Response surface modeling with Box-Behnken design for strontium removal from soil by calcium-based solution

Owing to its physicochemical similarity to strontium (Sr), calcium (Ca) was tested as a key component of a soil washing solution for Sr-contaminated soil collected near a nuclear power plant. A four-factor, three-level Box-Behnken experimental design combined with response surface modeling was employed to determine the optimal Sr washing condition for Ca-based solution. The Ca concentration (0.1-1 M), liquid-to-soil ratio (5-20), washing time (0.5-2 h), and pH (2.0-7.0) were tested as the independent variables. From the Box-Behnken design, 27 sets of experimental conditions were selected, and a second-order polynomial regression equation was derived. The significance of the independent parameters and interactions was tested by analysis of variance. Ca concentration was found to be the most influential factor. To determine whether the four variables were independent, three-dimensional (3D) response surface plots were established. The optimal washing condition was determined to be as follows: 1 M Ca, L/S ratio of 20, 1 h washing, and pH = 2. Under this condition, the highest Sr removal efficiency (68.2%) was achieved on a soil contaminated with 90.1 mg/kg of Sr. Results from five-step sequential extraction before and after washing showed that 84.0% and 82.9% of exchangeable and carbonate-bound Sr were released, respectively. In addition, more tightly bound Sr, such as Fe/Mn oxides-bound and organic matter-bound Sr, were also removed (86.2% and 64.5% removal, respectively).

Use of Different Types of Biosorbents to Remove Cr (VI) from Aqueous Solution

This article summarizes the results of a research study that was focused on the possibility of removing Cr (VI) from aqueous solution, using low-cost waste biomaterial in a batch mode. A set of seven biosorbents was used: Fomitopsis pinicola, a mixture of cones, peach stones, apricot stones, Juglans regia shells, orange peels, and Merino sheep wool. Three grain fractions (fr. 1/2, fr. 0.5/1.0, and fr. 0/0.5 mm) of biosorbents were studied. The aim was to find the most suitable biosorbent that can be tested with real samples. The influence of other factors on the course of biosorption was studied as well (chemical activation of the biosorbent, pH value, rotation speed during mixing, temperature, and the influence of biosorbent concentration). The use of chemical activation and adjustment of the pH to 1.1 to 2.0 make it possible to increase their sorption capacity and, for some biosorbents, to shorten the exposure times. Two kinetic models were used for the analysis of the experimental data, to explain the mechanism of adsorption and its possible speed control steps: pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model seems to be the most suitable for the description of the experimental data. The thermodynamic parameters suggest that the biosorption was endothermic and spontaneous. In the biosorption equilibrium study, the adsorption data were described by using Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The Langmuir model was applicable to describe the adsorption data of all biosorbents. Both models are suitable for chemically treated sheep fleece and peach stones.

Application of Raw and Modified Pomegranate Peel for Wastewater Treatment: A Literature Overview and Analysis

The use of renewable substrates as biosorbents has a great attention in wastewater treatment. The pomegranate peel (PGP) constitutes one of these substrates. A review is carried out to investigate the potential of pomegranate peel (PGP) for wastewater treatment. Physical and chemical PGP properties are presented and compared to those of Tunisian pomegranate peel (El Gabsi). Raw and modified PGP performance and sorption capacity for metals, dyes, and organic pollutants are evaluated. Different experimental sorption conditions such as concentration, contact time, pH, temperature, and adsorbent dose used in the literature are illustrated. Studied and best-fitted kinetics and isotherm models to experimental data and thermodynamic parameters are compared. The effects of activating physical and/or chemical conditions on the activated PGP properties are presented. This paper reveals noteworthiness properties of raw PGP for wastewater treatment compared to this activated form. The comparison between activated and raw PGP morphology exhibits that the activation does not necessarily improve the PGP adsorption capacity. Despite a limited research carried out on the raw PGP biosorbent, it appears from this study that it has very good adsorption properties, making it a serious and low-cost renewable substrate toward practical applications in wastewater treatment compared to various other waste agricultural biomass.

Simultaneous leaching of multiple heavy metals from a soil column by extracellular polymeric substances of Aspergillus tubingensis F12

The use of the biological agents for leaching heavy metals from contaminated soils is a very promising method that is both efficient and eco-friendly. In this study, a fungus Aspergillus tubingensis F12 was reported to possess a strong adsorption capacity for various heavy metal ions and shown to adsorb 90.8% Pb, 68.4% Zn, 64.5% Cr, 13.1% Cu, 12.9% Ni, and 6.9% Cd in aqueous solution. As extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) was found to play a leading role in the adsorption of metal ions, we applied EPS as a leaching agent to simultaneously remove six metals from soil in a column leaching experiment. The flow rate, initial solution pH, initial EPS concentration, and ionic strength were investigated using response surface methodology. The minimum and maximum metal leaching capacities were determined to be 0.089 mg/g and 3.703 mg/g, respectively. Verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we made the preliminary deductions that ion exchange determines the leaching capacity limit and that biosorption plays a large role in reaching that limit. Additionally, the redox behaviour of Cu produced more carboxyl groups, which increased the adsorption of heavy metals. The ecological impact of this method was also examined; we found that the influences of leaching with EPS on soil properties and microbial community structure were slight. Therefore, the reported leaching process might have application prospects for metal removal from soil.

Response Surface Design for Removal of Lead by Different Lactic Acid Bacteria

Background: Toxic heavy metals, such as lead, are widely used in industry and may cause serious health problems and ecological hazards for living organisms. Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the removal efficiency of lead by Lactobacillus strains using a methodological approach. Methods: After selecting the bacteria with the maximum metals removal ability, experiments were conducted according to (i) the Plackett-Burman design (Minitab18 program) to screen several significant process factors and (ii) Central Composite Design (Design-Expert 11.1.2.0 program) to find out the optimum process conditions for the maximum capacity of metal removal efficiency. Results: The optimum pH, metal, and bacterial concentration were 6.76, 391 mg.L-1, and 4.60 g.L-1 for lead removal ability of L. acidophilus ATCC4356. A quadratic model was developed to correlate the variables with removal efficiency. According to the results, this model was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The experimental removal efficiencies at the optimum condition for lead by L. acidophilus ATCC4356 (73.9%) were consistent with the predicted values. Consequently, due to their appreciate efficiency and the lower cost of the lead removal ability, these two bacteria may be a candidate as good biosorbents. The results also confirmed that the Response Surface Methodology is an appropriate methodology for modeling of removal efficiency.

Separation and determination of ciprofloxacin in seawater, human blood plasma and tablet samples using molecularly imprinted polymer pipette-tip solid phase extraction and its optimization by response surface methodology

By synthesizing a molecular imprinted polymer as an efficient adsorbent, ciprofloxacin was micro-extracted from seawater, human blood plasma and tablet samples by pipette-tip micro solid phase extraction and determined spectrophotometrically. Response surface methodology was applied with central composite design to build a model based on factors affecting on microextraction of ciprofloxacin; including volume of eluent solvent, number of extraction cycles, number of elution cycles, and pH of sample. Other factors that affect extraction efficiency, such as type of eluent solvent, volume of sample, type, and amount of salt were optimized with one-variable-at-a-time method. Under optimum extraction condition, pH of sample solution was 7.0, volume of eluent solvent (methanol) was 200 µL, volume of sample solution was 10 mL, and the number of extraction and elution cycles was five and seven, respectively, amount of Na₂ SO₄ (as salt) and MIP (as sorbent) were optimized at 150 and 2 mg, respectively. The linear range of the suggested method under optimum extraction factors was 5-150 µg/L with a limit of detection of 1.50 µg/L for the analyte. Reproducibility of the method (as relative standard deviation) was better than 7%.

The effect of biochar mild air oxidation on the optimization of lead(II) adsorption from wastewater

In the present study, the effects of mild air oxidation of a biochar produced by the Pyrovac Inc. pyrolysis process, on the adsorption of lead(II) from synthetic wastewater under batch experimental conditions have been investigated. The adsorption experiments were performed under several conditions suggested by the response surface methodology, which allowed finding the optimal conditions, in order to maximize the adsorption capacity (Q(mgg^-1)), as well as the extraction efficiency (E (%)). The optimal conditions of lead ions adsorption were as follows: pH = 5, agitation time = 300 min, adsorbent mass = 0.5 g (per 50 cm³ of solution), and lead initial concentration = 100gm^-3, resulted in an adsorption capacity of 7.9 mg g^-1. Equilibrium adsorption was then obtained by keeping pH and adsorbent mass at the optimal values and changing the lead initial concentration for a sufficient agitation time. Results showed that mild air oxidation increased the equilibrium adsorption capacity of biochar from 2.5 to 44 mg g^-1. Oxidized biochar after equilibrium adsorption was submitted to SEM/EDX and XPS analysis. From SEM it was found that lead particles were distributed heterogeneously after adsorption. From XPS analysis, it was revealed that the external surface of oxidized biochar particles becomes saturated for the initial point of equilibrium diagram, obtained at lead initial concentration of 100gm^-3, suggesting that for a higher concentration, the internal surfaces of particles participate in the cations adsorption. The participation of surface functional groups in the adsorption process showed that carbonyl, carboxylic, and aromatic rings of oxidized biochar were involved in the adsorption. This work suggests that the very simple process of mild air oxidation can be used instead of the usual costly chemical activation, in order to improve biochar cation exchange capacity.

Application of electrocoagulation for the efficient pollutants removal to reuse the treated wastewater in the dyeing process of the textile industry

The possibility of using electrocoagulation for efficient removal of pollutants in the industrial liquid waste of a textile industry was studied. The performance of the process was evaluated through the analysis of color, turbidity, and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The analysis was first done with the wastewater coming from the process of dyeing linen, which is the most polluting of all effluents that reach the residual effluent pool (REP). For the analysis, the MODDE 7.0 software was used to construct a statistical model. With the results obtained from this model and the experimental measurements, response surfaces were obtained. These response surfaces predicted the behavior of electrocoagulation for different values of the studied variables (pH, current density, and treatment time). Based on the obtained results, the wastewater coming from the REP was treated using the optimum values for the operational variables. After the treatment it was possible to remove 86% color, 82% turbidity, and 59% COD. It was demonstrated that reusing the treated water in the process of wool dyeing does not have a negative effect on the quality of the dyed fabric. Thus, it is possible to implement the process in the textile industry to reduce the consumption of water.

Application of experimental design for the optimization of artificial neural network-based water quality model: a case study of dissolved oxygen prediction

This paper presents an application of experimental design for the optimization of artificial neural network (ANN) for the prediction of dissolved oxygen (DO) content in the Danube River. The aim of this research was to obtain a more reliable ANN model that uses fewer monitoring records, by simultaneous optimization of the following model parameters: number of monitoring sites, number of historical monitoring data (expressed in years), and number of input water quality parameters used. Box-Behnken three-factor at three levels experimental design was applied for simultaneous spatial, temporal, and input variables optimization of the ANN model. The prediction of DO was performed using a feed-forward back-propagation neural network (BPNN), while the selection of most important inputs was done off-model using multi-filter approach that combines a chi-square ranking in the first step with a correlation-based elimination in the second step. The contour plots of absolute and relative error response surfaces were utilized to determine the optimal values of design factors. From the contour plots, two BPNN models that cover entire Danube flow through Serbia are proposed: an upstream model (BPNN-UP) that covers 8 monitoring sites prior to Belgrade and uses 12 inputs measured in the 7-year period and a downstream model (BPNN-DOWN) which covers 9 monitoring sites and uses 11 input parameters measured in the 6-year period. The main difference between the two models is that BPNN-UP utilizes inputs such as BOD, P, and PO₄^3-, which is in accordance with the fact that this model covers northern part of Serbia (Vojvodina Autonomous Province) which is well-known for agricultural production and extensive use of fertilizers. Both models have shown very good agreement between measured and predicted DO (with R² ≥ 0.86) and demonstrated that they can effectively forecast DO content in the Danube River.

A New Method for the Determination of Sucrose Concentration in a Pure and Impure System: Spectrophotometric Method

Analytical chemistry is a set of procedures and techniques used to identify and quantify the composition of a sample of material. It is also focused on improvements in experimental design and the creation of new measurement tools. Analytical chemistry has broad applications to forensics, medicine, science, and engineering. The objective of this study is to develop a new method of sucrose dosage using a spectrophotometry method in a pure and impure system (presence of glucose and fructose). The work performed shows the reliability of this method. A model linking sucrose solution absorbance and mass percentage of glucose and fructose has been developed using experimental design. The results obtained show that all the investigated factors (sucrose concentration, mass percentage of glucose, and mass percentage of fructose) have a positive effect on the absorbance. The effect of the interaction between glucose and fructose on the absorbance is very significant.

Optimization of sulfate removal from wastewater using magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes by response surface methodology

This paper reports a facile method for removal of sulfate from wastewater by magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MMWCNTs). Multi-walled carbon nanotubes and MMWCNTs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The results of the analysis indicated that MMWCNTs were synthesized successfully. The MMWCNTs can be easily manipulated in a magnetic field for the desired separation, leading to the removal of sulfate from wastewater. Response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with central composite design was applied to evaluate the effects of D/C (adsorbent dosage per initial concentration of pollutant (mg_adsorbent/(mg/l)_initial)) and pH on sulfate removal (%). Using RSM methodology, a quadratic polynomial equation was obtained, for removal of sulfate, by multiple regression analysis. The optimum combination for maximum sulfate removal of 93.28% was pH = 5.96 and D/C = 24.35. The experimental data were evaluated by the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models. The adsorption capacity of sulfate in the studied concentration range was 56.94 (mg/g). It was found out that the MMWCNTs could be considered as a promising adsorbent for the removal of sulfate from wastewater.

Nickel adsorption onto polyurethane ethylene and vinyl acetate sorbents

The present study was conducted to appraise the efficiencies of polyurethane ethylene sorbent (PES) and vinyl acetate sorbent (VAS) for nickel (Ni) adsorption. Process variables, i.e. Ni(II) ions initial concentration, pH, contact time and adsorbent dosage were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) approach. The Ni(II) adsorption was fitted to the kinetic models (pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order) and adsorption isotherms (Freundlich and Langmuir). At optimum conditions of process variables, 171.99 mg/g (64.7%) and 388.08 mg/g (92.7%) Ni(II) was adsorbed onto PES and VAS, respectively. The RSM analysis revealed that maximum Ni(II) adsorption can be achieved at 299 mg/L Ni(II) ions initial concentration, 4.5 pH, 934 min contact time and 1.3 g adsorbent dosage levels for PES, whereas the optimum values for VAS were found to be 402 mg/L Ni(II) ions initial concentration, 4.6 pH, 881 min contact time and 1.2 g adsorbent dosage, respectively. The -OH and -C = O- were involved in the Ni(II) adsorption onto PES and VAS adsorbents. At optimum levels, up to 53.67% and 80.0% Ni(II) was removed from chemical industry wastewater using PES and VAS, respectively, which suggest that PES and VAS could possibly be used for Ni(II) adsorption from industrial wastewater.

Response surface modeling of boron adsorption from aqueous solution by vermiculite using different adsorption agents: Box-Behnken experimental design

In this study, a different method was applied for boron removal by using vermiculite as the adsorbent. Vermiculite, which was used in the experiments, was not modified with adsorption agents before boron adsorption using a separate process. Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA) and Gallic acid (GA) were used as adsorption agents for vermiculite by maintaining the solid/liquid ratio at 12.5 g/L. HDTMA/GA concentration, contact time, pH, initial boron concentration, inert electrolyte and temperature effects on boron adsorption were analyzed. A three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design model combined with response surface method (RSM) was employed to examine and optimize process variables for boron adsorption from aqueous solution by vermiculite using HDTMA and GA. Solution pH (2-12), temperature (25-60 °C) and initial boron concentration (50-8,000 mg/L) were chosen as independent variables and coded x₁, x₂ and x₃ at three levels (-1, 0 and 1). Analysis of variance was used to test the significance of variables and their interactions with 95% confidence limit (α = 0.05). According to the regression coefficients, a second-order empirical equation was evaluated between the adsorption capacity (q_i) and the coded variables tested (x_i). Optimum values of the variables were also evaluated for maximum boron adsorption by vermiculite-HDTMA (HDTMA-Verm) and vermiculite-GA (GA-Verm).

Synthesis of magMCM-41 with rice husk silica as cadmium sorbent from aqueous solutions: parameters' optimization by response surface methodology

The magnetic mesoporous silica of magMCM-41 with large surface area (695 m² g^-1) and high magnetization (10.79 emu g^-1) was synthesized using extracted amorphous silica from rice husk. The synthesized materials were applied for adsorption of Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution in batch operation systems. A highly selective adsorbent was obtained by grafting 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane on the pores of the magMCM-41 in which the adsorption capacity of Cd(II) ions increased from 41.8 to 86 mg g^-1, under the same conditions. A total of 20 sets of experiments were planned by the central composite design under response surface methodology. The effects of three independent variables pH, initial Cd(II) ion concentration and sorbent dosage were investigated on the adsorption capacity (q_e) and removal efficiency (R) of cadmium. The best responses for Cd(II) adsorption capacity and removal efficiency were 493.21 mg g^-1 and 60.25%, respectively, which was achieved at pH of 5.05, sorbent dosage of 0.1 g L^-1 and Cd(II) concentration of 150 mg L^-1. Additionally, the obtained value for desirability was equal to 0.807. The theoretical isotherm models were applied to describe the adsorption process that the Langmuir model provides the best correlation of the equilibrium data. The kinetics study revealed that data from the experiments fitted well to the pseudo-second-order equation than the pseudo-first-order equation. The thermodynamic parameters revealed that the adsorption process strongly depended on temperature and indicated the exothermic behavior and spontaneous nature of the adsorption.

Application of Box-Behnken design for modeling of lead adsorption onto unmodified and NaCl-modified zeolite NaA obtained from biosilica

The main objective of the present study was to optimize lead adsorption onto zeolite NaA. For this purpose, to synthesize zeolite NaA under hydrothermal conditions, local wheat husk was precleaned with chemical treatment using hydrochloric acid solution. The unmodified (ZU) and NaCl-modified (ZN) zeolites were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The optimization of adsorption process was examined using Box-Behnken Experimental Design in response surface methodology by Design Expert Version 7.0.0 (Stat-Ease, USA). The effects of initial lead (II) concentration, temperature, and time were selected as independent variables. Lack of fit test indicates that the quadratic regression model was significant with the high coefficients of determination values for both adsorbents. Optimum process conditions for lead (II) adsorption onto ZU and ZN were found to be 64.40°C and 64.80°C, respectively, and 90.80 min, and 350 mg L^-1 initial lead(II) concentration for both adsorbents. Under these conditions, maximum adsorption capacities of ZU and ZN for lead (II) were 293.38 mg g^-1 and 321.85 mg g^-1, respectively.

Optimization of process parameters for removal of heavy metals by biomass of Cu and Co-doped alginate-coated chitosan nanoparticles

In this study, the efficiency of alginate-coated chitosan nanoparticles (Alg-CS-NPs) for removal of heavy metals from industrial effluents was investigated. To this end, the researchers constructed a reactor containing biomass, using response surface methodology (RSM) for process optimization. Reactor tests were carried out with both synthetic and industrial effluents containing nickel. The optimum conditions to achieve maximum removal efficiency (RE) rates for both synthetic and industrial effluents were specified for contact time (0-120min), pH level (1-9), biomass dose (0.1-0.9g), and initial metal ion concentration (10-90mg/L). It was determined that 94.48% of the nickel could be removed at pH=3, 70mg/L initial nickel concentration, a dose of 0.3g biomass, and 30min contact time. The kinetic data fit well to a pseudo second-order model and the equilibrium data of the metal ions could be described well with Freundlich isotherm models.

Adsorptive removal of nickel(II) ions from aqueous environment: A review

Among various methods adsorption can be efficiently employed for the treatment of heavy metal ions contaminated wastewater. In this context the authors reviewed variety of adsorbents used by various researchers for the removal of nickel(II) ions from aqueous environment. One of the objectives of this review article is to assemble the scattered available enlightenment on a wide range of potentially effective adsorbents for nickel(II) ions removal. This work critically assessed existing knowledge and research on the uptake of nickel by various adsorbents such as activated carbon, non-conventional low-cost materials, nanomaterials, composites and nanocomposites. The system's performance is evaluated with respect to the overall metal removal and the adsorption capacity. In addition, the equilibrium adsorption isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics data as well as various optimal experimental conditions (solution pH, equilibrium contact time and dosage of adsorbent) of different adsorbents towards Ni(II) ions were also analyzed. It is evident from a literature survey of more than 190 published articles that agricultural solid waste materials, natural materials and biosorbents have demonstrated outstanding adsorption capabilities for Ni(II) ions.

Insights into the equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamics of nickel removal by environmental friendly Lansium domesticum peel biosorbent

Lansium domesticum peel (LDP), a waste material generated from the fruit consumption, was evaluated as a biosorbent for nickel removal from aqueous media. The effects of dosage, contact time, initial pH, initial concentration and temperature on the biosorption process were investigated in batch experiments. Equilibrium data were fitted by the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich models using nonlinear regression method with the best-fit model evaluated based on coefficient of determination (R(2)) and Chi-square (χ(2)). The best-fit isotherm was found to be the Langmuir model exhibiting R(2) very close to unity (0.997-0.999), smallest χ(2) (0.0138-0.0562) and largest biosorption capacity (10.1mg/g) at 30°C. Kinetic studies showed that the initial nickel removal was rapid with the equilibrium state established within 30min. Pseudo-second-order model was the best-fit kinetic model indicating the chemisorption nature of the biosorption process. Further data analysis by the intraparticle diffusion model revealed the involvement of several rate-controlling steps such as boundary layer and intraparticle diffusion. Thermodynamically, the process was exothermic, spontaneous and feasible. Regeneration studies indicated that LDP biosorbent could be regenerated using hydrochloric acid solution with up to 85% efficiency. The present investigation proved that LDP having no economic value can be used as an alternative eco-friendly biosorbent for remediation of nickel contaminated water.

Enhanced diesel fuel fraction from waste high-density polyethylene and heavy gas oil pyrolysis using factorial design methodology

Factorial Design Methodology (FDM) was developed to enhance diesel fuel fraction (C9-C23) from waste high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and Heavy Gas Oil (HGO) through co-pyrolysis. FDM was used for optimization of the following reaction parameters: temperature, catalyst and HDPE amounts. The HGO amount was constant (2.00 g) in all experiments. The model optimum conditions were determined to be temperature of 550 °C, HDPE = 0.20 g and no FCC catalyst. Under such conditions, 94% of pyrolytic oil was recovered, of which diesel fuel fraction was 93% (87% diesel fuel fraction yield), no residue was produced and 6% of noncondensable gaseous/volatile fraction was obtained. Seeking to reduce the cost due to high process temperatures, the impact of using higher catalyst content (25%) with a lower temperature (500 °C) was investigated. Under these conditions, 88% of pyrolytic oil was recovered (diesel fuel fraction yield was also 87%) as well as 12% of the noncondensable gaseous/volatile fraction. No waste was produced in these conditions, being an environmentally friendly approach for recycling the waste plastic. This paper demonstrated the usefulness of using FDM to predict and to optimize diesel fuel fraction yield with a great reduction in the number of experiments.

Examination of Pb2+ bio-sorption onto Rhodotorula mucilaginosa using response surface methodology

With the rapid industrial development, wastewater has been a risk for environmental contamination. We aimed to explore the optimum condition and mechanism of Pb2+ bio-sorption onto Rhodotorula mucilaginosa WT6-5. Optimization of initial concentration of Pb2+, initial pH, and adsorption time for Pb2+ bio-sorption onto R. mucilaginosa WT6-5 was performed using response surface methodology. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray detection, X-ray fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to analyze the mechanisms and characteristics of Pb2+ bio-sorption. A maximum Pb2+ bio-sorption capacity of 1.45 mg/g was obtained under the optimal conditions of initial concentration of Pb2+ (30 mg/L), initial pH (5.45) and adsorption time (25 minutes). Some Pb2+ remained after adsorption, and the -OH, -C=O and C-O functional groups were primarily involved in Pb2+ bio-sorption onto R. mucilaginosa WT6-5. The mechanism of Pb2+ bio-sorption involved chemical and biological actions, ion exchange and functional groups effects.

A comparative study of biopolymers and alum in the separation and recovery of pulp fibres from paper mill effluent by flocculation

Recovery of cellulose fibres from paper mill effluent has been studied using common polysaccharides or biopolymers such as Guar gum, Xanthan gum and Locust bean gum as flocculent. Guar gum is commonly used in sizing paper and routinely used in paper making. The results have been compared with the performance of alum, which is a common coagulant and a key ingredient of the paper industry. Guar gum recovered about 3.86mg/L of fibre and was most effective among the biopolymers. Settling velocity distribution curves demonstrated that Guar gum was able to settle the fibres faster than the other biopolymers; however, alum displayed the highest particle removal rate than all the biopolymers at any of the settling velocities. Alum, Guar gum, Xanthan gum and Locust bean gum removed 97.46%, 94.68%, 92.39% and 92.46% turbidity of raw effluent at a settling velocity of 0.5cm/min, respectively. The conditions for obtaining the lowest sludge volume index such as pH, dose and mixing speed were optimised for guar gum which was the most effective among the biopolymers. Response surface methodology was used to design all experiments, and an optimum operational setting was proposed. The test results indicate similar performance of alum and Guar gum in terms of floc settling velocities and sludge volume index. Since Guar gum is a plant derived natural substance, it is environmentally benign and offers a green treatment option to the paper mills for pulp recycling.

A comparison of central composite design and Taguchi method for optimizing Fenton process

In the present study, a comparison of central composite design (CCD) and Taguchi method was established for Fenton oxidation. [Dye]_ini, Dye : Fe⁺², H₂O₂ : Fe⁺², and pH were identified control variables while COD and decolorization efficiency were selected responses. L₉ orthogonal array and face-centered CCD were used for the experimental design. Maximum 99% decolorization and 80% COD removal efficiency were obtained under optimum conditions. R squared values of 0.97 and 0.95 for CCD and Taguchi method, respectively, indicate that both models are statistically significant and are in well agreement with each other. Furthermore, Prob > F less than 0.0500 and ANOVA results indicate the good fitting of selected model with experimental results. Nevertheless, possibility of ranking of input variables in terms of percent contribution to the response value has made Taguchi method a suitable approach for scrutinizing the operating parameters. For present case, pH with percent contribution of 87.62% and 66.2% was ranked as the most contributing and significant factor. This finding of Taguchi method was also verified by 3D contour plots of CCD. Therefore, from this comparative study, it is concluded that Taguchi method with 9 experimental runs and simple interaction plots is a suitable alternative to CCD for several chemical engineering applications.