Response surface methodology for optimization of heavy metal removal by magnetic biosorbent made from anaerobic sludge

In this study, optimum conditions for adsorption of heavy metals such as Cu2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ onto a low-cost, magnetically modified-alkali conditioned anaerobically digested sludge (MADS) adsorbent were obtained. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) incorporating Central Composite Design (CCD) of experiments was applied to optimize four independent process variables. Statistical analysis was executed by ANOVA and the quadratic model developed had regression coefficients of 0.959, 0.957 and 0.95 for Cu2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+, respectively. The independent variables such as pH, time and initial concentration positively influenced adsorption capacity, qe, whereas the value of qe decreased with an increase in MADS dosage. Model validation experiments for optimization of adsorption process showed comparable results with predicted values. The adsorption capacity of MADS adsorbent at optimum conditions found through RSM analysis was 29.721 mg L−1, 28.551 mg L−1 and 28.601 mg L−1 for Cu2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ respectively.