Application of artificial neural networks for estimating Cd, Zn, Pb removal efficiency from wastewater using complexation-microfiltration process

Complexation-microfiltration process for removal of heavy metal ions such as lead, cadmium and zinc from water had been investigated. Two soluble derivates of cellulose was selected as complexing agents. The dependence of the removal efficiency from the operating parameters (pH value, pressure, concentration of metal ion, concentration of complexing agent and type of counter ion) was established. Two approaches of preparation of input data and two different artificial neural network architectures, general regression neural network and back-propagation neural network have been used for modeling of experimental data. The extrapolation ability of selected architectures, i.e., the prediction of rejection coefficient with inputs beyond the calibration range of original model, was also determined. The predictions were successful, and after evaluation of performances, the models that were developed gave relatively good results of mean absolute percentage error from 4 to 14% and R-squared from 0.717 to 0.852 for general regression neural network and from 0.897 to 0.955 for back-propagation neural network.