Response Surface Optimization of Biophotocatalytic Degradation of Industrial Wastewater for Bioenergy Recovery

Abstract

The continuous combustion of fossil fuels and industrial wastewater pollution undermines global environmental and socio-economic sustainability. Addressing this necessitates a techno-scientific revolution to recover the renewable energy potential of wastewater towards a circular economy. Herein, a developed biophotocatalytic (BP) system was examined with an engineered Fe-TiO2 to ascertain its degradability efficiency and biogas production from industrial wastewater. The response surface methodology (RSM) based on a modified Box-Behnken designed experiment was used to optimize and maximize the BP system’s desirability. The parameters investigated included catalyst dosage of 2–6 g and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 1–31 d at a constant temperature of 37.5 °C and organic loading rate of 2.38 kgCOD/Ld. The modified RSM-BBD predicted 100% desirability at an optimal catalyst load of 4 g and HRT of 21 d. This represented 267 mL/d of biogas and >98% COD, color, and turbidity removal. The experimental validity was in good agreement with the model predicted results at a high regression (R2 > 0.98) and 95% confidence level. This finding provides an insight into RSM modeling and optimization with the potential of integrating the BP system into wastewater settings for the treatment of industrial wastewater and biogas production.