TITLE:
Modelling and Optimisation of Copper Adsorption in Solution by the Response Surface Method
AUTHORS:
Kalidou Ba, Alpha Ousmane Toure, Samba Ndiaye, Moussa Diop, Falilou Mbacke Sambe
KEYWORDS:
Adsorption, Calcium Silicate, Copper, Response Surface, Titaniferous Sand
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Chemical Engineering and Science,
Vol.13 No.1,
January
17,
2023
ABSTRACT: Copper is
considered a heavy metal that can be toxic at certain concentrations and its
presence in water is a potential threat to public health. These heavy metals
also contribute to a remarkable degradation of the environment, hence the need
for effective treatment methods to remove them. In this study, a mixture of
titaniferous sand and calcium silicate was used as adsorbent material to eliminate
copper in solution. The calcium silicate was synthesised from fluosilicic acid,
which is a by-product of phosphoric acid manufacture. The titaniferous sand is
a residue from a mining industry. Both adsorbents were characterised by
infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence to determine their compositions
and physicochemical properties. The response surfaces, through the Box-Behnken
model, were used to model and optimise various adsorption parameters, namely
initial copper concentration (A: 60 - 200 mg/L), adsorbent dose (B: 0.1 - 0.6 g)
and pH (C: 4 - 10). The copper removal efficiency (98.92%), after statistical analysis,
was obtained under the following optimal conditions: an adsorbent dose of 0.55
g, an initial copper concentration of 197.25 mg/L
and a pH of 9.85. The study of the effects of the operating parameters showed
that they had a positive effect on the copper removal efficiency.