Reactive Black Removal by using Electrocoagulation Techniques: An Response Surface Methodology Optimization and Genetic Algorithm Modelling Approach

Abstract

<p>The dye wastewater discharge from the textile industries mainly affects the aquatic environment. Hence, the treatment of this wastewater is essential for a pollutant-free environment. The purpose of this research is to optimize the dye removal efficiency for process influencing independent variables such as pH, electrolysis time (ET), and current density (CD) by using Box-Behnken design (BBD) optimization and Genetic Algorithm (GA) modelling. The electrocoagulation treatment technique was used to treat the synthetically prepared Reactive Black dye solution under batch mode potentiometric operations. The percentage of error for the BBD optimization was significantly greater than for the GA modelling results. The optimum factors determined by GA modelling were CD-59.11 mA/cm², ET-24.17 minutes, and pH-8.4. At this moment, the experimental and predicted dye removal efficiencies were found to be 96.25% and 98.26%, respectively. The most and least predominant factors found by the beta coefficient were ET and pH respectively. The outcome of this research shows GA modeling is a better tool for predicting dye removal efficiencies as well as process influencing factors.</p>