Open AccessApplication of response surface methodology for simultaneous removal of major cations from seawater using metal oxide nanostructures
Author(s) -
Denga Ramutshatsha,
Jane Catherine Ngila,
Patrick Ndungu,
Philiswa N. Nomngongo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
water s.a./water sa
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.389
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1816-7950
pISSN - 0378-4738
DOI - 10.17159/wsa/2020.v46.i2.8247
Subject(s) - seawater , response surface methodology , nanomaterials , oxide , metal , aqueous solution , metal ions in aqueous solution , adsorption , inorganic chemistry , nanostructure , chemistry , central composite design , composite number , chemical engineering , materials science , nuclear chemistry , nanotechnology , metallurgy , chromatography , composite material , geology , oceanography , engineering
The objectives of this study were to assess the suitability of metal oxide nanomaterials for removal of major cations Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ from seawater. The as-synthesised nanomaterials were characterized using different techniques, such as XRD, TEM, and BET. The simultaneous removal of Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ ion from aqueous solutions by α-Fe2O3 and SiO2/Nb2O5/Fe2O3 nanostructures was studied using batch method. The influence of different experimental parameters (such as initial metal ion concentrations, mass of adsorbent, sample pH and contact time) that affect the simultaneous removal of metal ions was studied using response surface methodology (RSM) based on small central composite design (SCCD). Under optimised conditions, the highest percentage removal was 75%, 92%, 93% and 85% for Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+, respectively.