Assessment of Phenol Removal Efficiency by Synthesized Zero Iron Nanoparticles and Fe Powder Using the Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

<em>The purpose of this study was the investigation of the removal of phenol with nanoparticles zero valent iron and iron powder. The effect of various parameters such as initial concentration, pH, contact time, and dosage of NZVI and Fe powder was examined, and a Central Composite Design (CCD) was then applied to appraisal the effect of these variables. The chemical and physical characteristics of NZVI were studied with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results displayed that the adequate initial concentration for phenol sorption, pH, contact time, and sorbent dosage were 5 mg/L, pH 2, 54.75 min and 1.40 g in the case of NZVI and 5 mg/L, pH 2, 55.84 min and 2.5 g in the case of Fe powder. The Central Composite Design (CCD) showed that the fundamental parameters were pH and initial phenol concentration had the main effect on phenol removal.</em>