Maximizing methyl red dye removal efficiency: a targeted parameter approach

BACKGROUND Liquid–liquid extraction plays a crucial role in the chemical industry for obtaining valuable products. This research focuses on optimizing key parameters, namely dye removal percentage, solvent capacity and distribution coefficient, in the liquid–liquid extraction of methyl red dye from its aqueous solution using benzene as the extractant. The study investigates the influence of key variables, including feed dye concentration (20–100) ppm, extraction time (10–30) min and dye solution‐to‐solvent ratio (1–3) mL mL−1. The experiments are conducted at a constant pH of 3 and controlled temperatures of 27 ± 2 °C. RESULTS By strategically controlling various parameters, this investigation aims to achieve superior outcomes, surpassing prior achievements in similar experimental conditions. Utilizing the Box–Behnken design for optimization, the research attains a remarkable recovery efficiency of 84.61%. The achieved optimal values for dye removal, distribution coefficient and solvent capacity are (84.61 ± 5.07)%, 5.22 ± 0.31 and (5.17 ± 0.94) ppm, respectively, at a feed dye concentration of 20 ppm, an extraction time of 27.994 min and a dye solution‐to‐solvent ratio of 3 mL mL−1. CONCLUSION These findings underscore the potential for maximizing methyl red dye extraction efficiency and surpass previously reported efficiency levels using the presented parameters with the same input data. The study contributes to advancements in liquid–liquid extraction technology and provides a deeper understanding of the optimization process with technical precision. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).