statistical modeling and process optimization of industrial wastewater treatment of mobarekeh steel complex using response surface methodology

in this study, modeling and optimization of coagulation and flocculation processes in cod removal of galvanized wastewater treatment plant of mobarakeh steel complex (msc) were studied. experiments of this study were designed using response surface method which is one of the most efficient methods in experimental design. the variables assessed in this study, are four factors including ph, input turbidity, coagulant and coagulant aid concentrations that each of them has been studied in five levels. in the modeling stage, by developing a second order regression model, predicting cod percentage removal at different values of assessed variables becomes possible without experiment. in the optimization phase, the optimal values of variables, with the goal of maximizing cod removal and minimizing material consumption, indicates the use of 350 mg/l ferric chloride as coagulant, 0.14 mg/l polyelectrolyte as coagulant aid in ph of 11 and input turbidity of 79 ntu.keywords: coagulation-flocculation, cod, optimization, galvanized wastewater, response surface