Author(s)

Ahmad Qasaimeh, Mohammad Abdallah, Falah Bani Hani

Chemical Engineering Department, AlHuson University College, Al-Balqa Applied University, Salt, Jordan.
Department of Civil Engineering, Jerash University, Jerash, Jordan.

In this paper, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system ANFIS is used to assess conditions required for aquatic systems to serve as a sink for metal removal; it is used to generate information on the behavior of heavy metals (mercury) in water in relation to its uptake by bio-species (e.g. bacteria, fungi, algae, etc.) and adsorption to sediments. The approach of this research entails training fuzzy inference system by neural networks. The process is useful when there is interrelation between variables and no enough experience about mercury behavior, furthermore it is easy and fast process. Experimental work on mercury removal in wetlands for specific environmental conditions was previously conducted in bench scale at Concordia University laboratories. Fuzzy inference system FIS is constructed comprising knowledge base (i.e. premises and conclusions), fuzzy sets, and fuzzy rules. Knowledge base and rules are adapted and trained by neural networks, and then tested. ANFIS simulates and predicts mercury speciation for biological uptake and mercury adsorption to sediments. Modeling of mercury bioavailability for bio-species and adsorption to sediments shows strong correlation of more than 98% between simulation results and experimental data. The fuzzy models obtained are used to simulate and forecast further information on mercury partitioning to species and sediments. The findings of this research give information about metal removal by aquatic systems and their efficiency.

Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy; Simulation, Heavy Metal; Sorption; Aquatic Systems; Forecast

A. Qasaimeh, M. Abdallah and F. Bani Hani, "Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Logic System for Heavy Metal Sorption in Aquatic Environments," Journal of Water Resource and Protection, Vol. 4 No. 5, 2012, pp. 277-284. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2012.45030.