Statistical Optimization of AC/TiO2-Cu Composite via Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Abstract

AC/TiO2-Cu composite was synthesized via microwave-assisted sol gel method and acts as ternary composite photocatalyst for the removal of antibiotic from an aqueous solution under UV light irradiation through adsorption/photodegradation process. In this study, a statistical optimization experimental design was performed using a face-centered central composite design in response surface methodology for optimizing the synthesize parameters of AC/TiO2-Cu composite. The influence of experimental factors such as AC/TiO2 ratio, Cu dosage, and irradiation power with adsorption-photodegradation performance as the response were investigated. The adequacy result of the statistical model between the relationship of the significant factors and responses were successfully specify (p≤0.05), where all the experimental factors had significant effects for the response. At optimal conditions of x_1 = 0.50, x_2 = 0.31 g, and x_3 = 574 Watts, the findings show a maximum antibiotic removal of 91.10%. Also, the results showed the regression analysis with an R2 value of 0.9837 indicates satisfactory predictive ability between the experimental results and the predictive values.