Experimental design for the optimization of paraquat removal from aqueous media using a fixed-bed column packed with Pinus Eldarica stalks activated carbon

Abstract

In this study, a fixed-bed column packed with an activated carbon (Pinus eldarica stalks (PES-AC)) was used to evaluate the performance of paraquat removal from wastewater. The effect of bed height, initial paraquat concentration, contact time, flow rate on the removal of paraquat was investigated using response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD). From the RSM model, the optimum experimental conditions to achieve 94.65% removal of paraquat were solution pH of 8.0, 6 mg L−1 of paraquat, 4 mL min−1 of flow rate, 0.8 cm of the bed height, and 40 min of contact time. The breakthrough data were significantly fitted with Thomas, bed depth services time (BDST), and Yoon–Nelson models. The high values of NBD (14.33, 32.29, and 54.46 mg L−1) and critical bed depth (0.396, 0.370, and 0.330 cm) obtained from BDST model revealed the high efficiency and suitability of the adsorbent. Adsorption of paraquat on PES-AC was strongly dependent on solution pH, indicating an electrostatic attraction mechanism.