Optimization of the Performance of Chitosan for the Nickel Removal from Wastewater

Optimum pH and coagulant dosage for chemical precipitation by coagulation-flocculation processing wastewater treatment plants is conventionally obtained through repeated jar test. In this research, optimization of the performance of chitosan for the removal of nickel from industrial wastewater was carried out using design of experiment and response surface methodology (RSM). The individual linear and quadratic effects of coagulant dosage and pH on the degree of removal of nickel were investigated. The optimum nickel removal from wastewater using Chitosan was 82.31% at optimum variables of pH 10.35 and coagulant dosage of 677 mg/L. The model used in predicting the precipitation process gave a good fit with the experimental variables and hence the suitability of RSM method for the optimization of chitosan performance