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Evaluation of process parameters for biosorption of chromium (VI) using full factorial design and response surface methodology

Ashish Anand Prabhu, Amrut Dilip Dhaneshwar, C.M.Mrudula, N.Kannan

The present study is focused on evaluation and optimization of biosorption of hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) using marine algae, Sargassum sp. Biosorption kinetics of Cr (VI) was studied using Langmuir and freundlich isotherms. It was found that the adsorption of Cr (VI) by Sargassum sp. could bemodeled effectively by Langmuir isotherms (R2 value of 0.994).A Full FactorialDesign (FFD)was used to determine the significance of process parameters like, pH, biomass concentration and biomass immobilization on biosorption efficiency. It was found that pH has the maximum effect on biosorption efficiencywhereas immobilizing the biomass did not seemto be significant. Central Composite Design (CCD) followed by response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to investigate the process conditions for maximum chromium adsorption. The optimum conditions for the biosorption were found to be pH 1.17 and biomass concentration of 0.3%at an initial Chromiumconcentration of 100ppm.