Development of a novel method for Copper sorption: An application of Taguchi Method

The aim of this study is to investigate the application of polypyrrole/ polyaniline (PPy/PANI) nanofiberfor Cu (II) sorption from paper mill wastewater. The tests and their optimization results were basedon the experiments design in three levels of variables using Taguchi method. The results showed thatin Copper removal tests, the pH of the solution was the most effective parameter of the sorptionprocess and the highest Copper removal rate was achieved in acid conditions. The adsorbent massand contact time also had considerable effect (less than pH) on Copper removal in the Taguchimethod. The effect of temperature on the sorption process was also studied and results showedthat the temperature improved the Copper sorption. The adsorption percentage increased withthe rise in temperature from 20 to 40 °C .The calculated amounts of thermodynamic parameterssuch as ΔH°(55.33KJ/mol) , ΔS°(0.209KJ/molK) and ΔG°(-7.4 ,-8.87,-11.31KJ/mol) showed that theadsorption of Copper on to nanofiber was feasible spontaneous and endothermic.