Production and characterization of composite activated carbon from potato peel waste for cyanide removal from aqueous solution

This research presents a response surface methodology (RSM) with I‐optimal method of DESIGN EXPERT (version 13 Stat‐Ease) for optimization and analysis of the adsorption process of the cyanide from aqueous solution by activated carbon (AC) and composite activated carbon (CuO/AC) produced by pyro carbonic acid microwave using potato peel waste as raw material. Pyrophosphate 60% (wt) was used for impregnation with an impregnation ratio 3:1, impregnation time of 4 h at 25°C, radiant power of 700 W, and activation time of 20 min. Batch experiments were conducted to determine the removal efficiency of cyanide from aqueous solution to evaluate the influences of various experimental parameters such as contact time, cyanide concentration, initial pH, and dosage of adsorbent on cyanide removal efficiency. The statistical analysis showed that the quadratic model was significant. The model very low probability value (p‐value