Optimisation of process parameters for adsorption of metal ions on straw carbon by using response surface methodology.

Optimisation of process parameters for adsorption of metal ions viz., Cu2+, Cd2+ and Ni2+ ions on Straw Carbon (SC) was carried out by using Box-Behnken statistics and analysis of variance methods. Response surface methodology with three levels of initial pH (4, 5, 6), dose (8, 10, 12 gl(-1)) and particle size (0.075, 0.090, 0.106m micron) were used in the identification of significance of the effects and interactions in adsorption studies. Response surface methodology requires no assumption and identifies the principal experimental variables and their interactions which have the greatest effect on adsorption. The optimum process parameters for maximum adsorption of Ni2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+ were obtained by this procedure.