Central composite rotatable design for optimization of trihalomethane extraction and detection through gas chromatography: a case study

Abstract

Central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was employed to optimize initial temperature (ºC), ramp function (ºC/min) and salt addition for trihalomethane extraction/quantification from the drinking water distribution network in Ratta Amral, Rawalpindi., Pakistan. Drinking water samples were collected from the treatment plant, overhead reservoir and consumer’s taps. The USEPA method for trihalomethane detection 551.1 via gas chromatography was applied using liquid–liquid extraction. The experiments with input variables for sample preparation and operational conditions were performed in a randomized order as per design of experiment by central composite rotatable design and responses were evaluated for model development. A significant (p = 0.005) two-factor interaction model was optimized. Initial temperature was observed to be insignificant (p = 0.64), while ramp function (p = 0.0043) and salt addition (p = 0.04) were significant. Product of salt addition and ramp was significant (p = 0.004), while product of initial temperature and salt addition was insignificant (p = 0.008). With a desirability function of 0.97, an initial temperature of 50 ºC, 6 ºC rise/min to 180 ºC and 0.5 g salt were optimized. It was found that development and optimization of the analytical methods for rapid trihalomethane detection would improve optimization of the current treatment practices in the country.