Investigation of the Possibility of Copper Removal from Industrial Leachate by Raw and Calcined Phosphogypsum: D-Optimal and Taguchi Designs

In the present study, the removal of Cu(II) was evaluated by raw and calcined phosphogypsum (PG) as an industrial product. The role of experimental factors on the removal of Cu(II) was examined by using D-optimal and Taguchi designs. The experimental factors and their related levels were selected as initial pH of 368, adsorbent content of 5, 10, and 25?g?L-1, contact time of 5, 10, and 20?min, and temperature of 20, 40, and 60 degrees C. The results are evaluated by ANOVA test to extract important experimental factors and their levels. The performances of the suggested factorial designs were then compared and regression models that took into account the significant main and interaction effects were suggested. Taguchi design was found as a reliable solution with less number of experiments for adsorption studies with the optimized values. The resultant removal efficiency is calculated as 78.34%. The results revealed that calcined PG is an appropriate adsorbent for Cu(II) removal from leachate of industrial waste.