Response surface methodology for optimising the operating conditions of nickel(II) adsorption

In this paper, activated carbon has been produced by physical activation for sawdust, the produced activated carbon has been characterised and used as adsorbent for removal of nickel (Ni) (II) from aqueous solution. The present work also represents two models used to optimise the operating conditions that affect the nickel(II) removal from aqueous solution using activated carbon prepared by physical activation of sawdust as adsorbent. These operating conditions include the initial concentration of nickel ion, pH and dosage of adsorbent. One of these models is developed using linear regression and the other using response surface methodology (RSM). The two models were validated with experimental data and showed good agreement, with R 2 ranges from 0·92 to 0·98.