OPTIMIZATION OF PREPARATION CONDITIONS USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY FOR NOVEL ADSORBENT MADE FROM SUCROSE SOLUTION IMPREGNATION INTO EXPANDED GRAPHITE

In this study, expanded graphite (EG) was used as a matrix to generate a novel expanded graphite-based composite adsorbent (EGCA) for the high-efficiency removal of cationic dye. ZnCl sub(2) was used as chemical activating agents. Liquid-phase adsorption test was made using the produced adsorbent to retain Methylene Blue (MB). Preparation conditions of the novel adsorbent were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Two quadratic models were developed for yield of the novel adsorbent and adsorption of MB using Design-Expert software. The models were used to calculate the optimum operating conditions of preparation of adsorbent providing a compromise between yield and adsorption of the process. After optimization studies, the best production methodology involved a 22.63% of impregnation concentration, a 282.62% of chemical ratio and a heating rate of 10 degree C times min super(-1) to 639.53 degree C of activation temperature, which resulted in 99.40% of MB removal and 36.11% of novel adsorbent yield. EGCA prepared under optimum conditions was characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy.