Sono-Fenton regeneration of granular activated carbon saturated with Rhodamine B: Optimization using response surface methodology

• Published in: Chemical engineering communications 2017-09, Vol.204 (9), p.1070-1081
• Main Authors: Parsa, Jalal Basiri, Jafari, Farnaz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Central composite design (CCD); Design optimization; Design parameters; Efficiency; Energy consumption; Fitness; granular activated carbon; Hydrogen peroxide; Hydroxyl radicals; Irradiation; Mathematical models; Regeneration; Response surface methodology; Rhodamine; Rhodamine B; Sono-Fenton regeneration; ultrasonic irradiation
• ISSN: 0098-6445; 1563-5201
• DOI: 10.1080/00986445.2017.1338180

This study investigated the combination of chemical and ultrasonic regeneration (Sono-Fenton), used for regenerating granular activated carbon (GAC) saturated with Rhodamine B (RB). This process was modeled and optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD). Effective parameters on regeneration efficiency such as pH, concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), and time of ultrasonic irradiation were optimized and modeled using the reduced quadratic method. The fitness of the model was checked by the determination coefficient (R 2  = 0.9978). At optimum condition, the effective parameters of pH = 3.84, concentration of H 2 O 2  = 38.28 (mM), and time of ultrasonic irradiation = 23.11(min), maximum regeneration efficiency (87.88%) was achieved, the results of which were obtained after four-time sequential adsorption-regeneration cycles were acceptable. Desorption and degradation of RB were conducted through the generation of active species, including hydroxyl radicals and high-energy ultrasound. The regeneration efficiency was increased using this combination method. In conclusion, the Sono-Fenton method is suggested to be used more widely in regeneration processes.