Optimization of Rhodamine 6G removal from aqueous solution using Box-Behnken design

Abstract

Batik industry is a growing textile industry in Kelantan. Improper treatment of wastewater from manufacture units leads to water pollution. One of the most abundant and harmful pollutants found in the batik industries effluents is Rhodamine 6G. A nanomagnetic adsorbent composite (NMAC) was used in this study to remove the Rhodamine 6G from aqueous solution. In this study, Box-Behnken Design is applied to obtain a model for optimum conditions for dye removal. A maximal dye removal (99.03%) was attained with optimum conditions; initial dye concentration of 26.12 mg L-1, contact time of 14.33 min, adsorbent dose of 0.05 g, particle size of 190.26 μm and pH of 6.54. A quadratic equation was validated with 99.97 % fit between predicted and experimental outcomes.