REMOVAL OF METHYLENE BLUE FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS USING ALUM SLUDGE: SORPTION OPTIMIZATION BY RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

A sorption process on low cost sorbents is one the promising methods for removing of these pollutants from aqueous solutions. This report describes use of drinking water treatment sludge which is abundantly available from drinking water treatment plants, to remove methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solutions. The main objective of this work is to determine the optimum conditions for removal of MB dye, a common compound that is used as a model for organic chemicals. Response surface methodology (RSM) is used in the optimization of the sorption process. Six independent important factors which are temperature of treatment, pH of solution, dosage of sorbent, initial dye concentration, contact period and temperature of sorption were investigated using batch sorption technique with a 26 half factorial faced centered central composite design.