EXPERIMENTAL AND COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS FOR OPTIMIZATION OF SEAWATER BIODEGRADABILITY USING PHOTO CATALYSIS

Abstract

Seawater pollution is a significant global environmental problem. Various technologies and methods have been used to remove the contaminants found in saltwater.  This experimental study investigates the degradation of contaminants present in seawater using solar photocatalysis, where a combination of TiO2 and ZnO was used.  The effects of catalyst dosage, pH, and reaction duration were assessed using percentage removal efficiencies of total organic carbon (TOC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and biodegradability (BOD/COD). Biodegradability is essential for removing pollutants from saltwater and plays a vital role. The higher the biodegradability, the more efficient the treatment procedure will be. The most effective percentage reduction rates from the experimental data obtained were TOC=59.80%, COD=75.20%, BOD=23.94%, and biodegradability=0.055. For modeling, optimizing, and assessing the effects of parameters, the Design Expert based on Box Behnken design (RSM-BBD) and a predictive model based on the MATLAB adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) tools were used. The coefficient of determination R2 was found to be 0.977 for the RSM-BBD model and 0.99 for the ANFIS model. According to the RSM-BBD design, the maximum percentage pollutant elimination efficiencies were found to be TOC=55.4, COD=73.4, BOD=23.70%, and BOD/COD=0.054, but for the ANFIS model, they were TOC=59.4, COD=75.4, BOD=24.1%, and BOD/COD=0.055. It was discovered that the ANFIS model outperformed RSM-BBD in process optimization. ABSTRAK: :  Pencemaran air laut adalah masalah alam sekitar global yang ketara. Pelbagai teknologi dan kaedah telah digunakan bagi menyingkirkan pencemaran yang dijumpai dalam air laut. Kajian eksperimen ini menilai degradasi pencemaran yang hadir dalam air laut menggunakan fotopemangkin, di mana kombinasi TiO2 dan ZnO digunakan. Kesan dos pemangkin, pH, dan tempoh reaksi dipantau menggunakan peratus kecekapan penyingkiran jumlah karbon organik (TOC), keperluan kimia oksigen (COD), keperluan biologi oksigen (BOD), dan kebolehdegradasian (BOD/COD). Kebolehdegradasian adalah sangat penting bagi menyingkirkan bahan cemar dari air laut dan berperanan penting. Semakin tinggi kebolehdegradasian, semakin cekap prosedur rawatan. Peratus kadar pengurangan yang paling berkesan daripada data eksperimen adalah didapati pada TOC=59.80%, COD=75.20%, BOD=23.94%, dan biodegradasi=0.055. Bagi mengkaji kesan parameter terhadap model, kadar optimum, dan memantau keberkesanan parameter, kaedah Pakar Reka Bentuk pada rekaan Kotak Behnken (RSM-BBD) dan model ramalan berdasarkan sistem pengaruh menggunakan sistem MATLAB iaitu Inferens Neural-Fuzi Boleh Suai (ANFIS) digunakan. Pekali penentu R2 terhasil pada 0.977 bagi model RSM-BBD dan 0.99 pada model ANFIS. Berdasarkan reka bentuk RSM-BBD, peratus maksimum keberkesanan penyingkiran bahan cemar dijumpai pada TOC=55.4, COD=73.4, BOD=23.70%, dan BOD/COD=0.054, tetapi bagi model ANFIS, TOC=59.4, COD=75.4, BOD=24.1%, dan BOD/COD=0.055. Model ANFIS adalah lebih berkesan daripada model RSM-BBD dalam proses pengoptimuman.