This paper describes a sequential experimentation approach for efficiently screening and tuning the parameters of a stochastic heuristic. Stochastic heuristics such as ant colony algorithms often use a large number of tuning parameters. Testing all combinations of these factors is prohibitive and inefficient. The sequential procedure recommended by this paper uses resolution IV fractional facto...

In this work, sorption of nickel from aqueous solution on hypnea valentiae, red macro algae, was investigated. Batch experiments have been carried out to find the effect of various parameters such as pH, temperature, sorbent dosage, metal concentration and contact time on the sorption of nickel using hypnea valentiae . Response surface methodology (RSM) is employed to optimize the process param...

Constructed Wetland (CW) is a reasonable method to treat wastewater. Current study was carried out to co-treat landfill leachate and domestic wastewater using a CW system. Typha domingensis was transplanted to CW, which encloses two substrate layers of adsorbents named ZELIAC and zeolite. Response surface methodology and central composite design were employed to evaluate experimental data. Cont...

The aim of this work was to develop a new and simple coacervative extraction method for the preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of Cu(II) in water samples. Dithizone was used as the chelating agent while an anionic surfactant, namely sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), was used as extracting agent at room temperature. Central composite design (CCD) based on response surface methodol...

Thermoplastic elastomer of PA6/NBR reinforced by various nanoparticles have wide application in many industries. The properties of these materials depend on PA6, NBR, and nanoparticle amount and characteristics. In this study, the simultaneous effect of NBR and graphene nanoparticle content on mechanical, thermal properties, and morphology of PA6/NBR/Graphene nanocomposites investigated by Cent...

biodegradation of phenanthrene (phe) was studied in aqueous culture to demonstrate the potential of the mixed culture in degrading high concentration of phe. the experiments were conducted to monitor biodegradation of phenanthrene for duration of 6 days. biodegradation of phe was successfully achieved in low and middle concentration by the isolated mixed culture. a full factorial central compos...

The current study is an attempt to contribute for efficient and cost-effective substrates for xanthan gum production. In this context, the sugar cane molasses wastes can be used as a cheap substrate for xanthan gum production. Xanthan biopolymer production by a novel Xanthomonas campestris strain IBRC-M 10644 was optimized with statistical approaches. Based on the results ...

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibers were prepared via electrospinning process. Several different factors influence on this process and application of experimental design for its optimization is of great importance. The central composite design (CCD) was used for planning and optimizing of the experiments and also, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed for the statistical va...