Determination of significant factors in the removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions by applying adsorption method: using factorial design

This paper aims to prove that adsorption is one of the most applicable, efficient, and inexpensive processes in the removal of heavy metals from water. In this research, commercially activated carbon and clinoptilolite were used as adsorbents in order to adsorb Cu(II) in the aqueous solutions. The effects of different experiment control factors including pH, time, temperature, adsorbent dose, initial concentration of Cu(II), mixing rate, and type of adsorbent have been investigated through the equations model designed by a two-level fractional factorial design in a batch system. Furthermore, by employing the experimental results, a linear mathematical regression model which represents the influence of each factors and their mutual interactions was established. Finally, the results declared that pH and temperature are significant among the main factors. Besides, the interaction of time and mixing speed was noticeable, so it was observed that the pH level of solution was the most influential parameter in the removal of metal ion.