DOI: 10.11648/j.ajset.20261104.29 ISSN: 2578-8353

Efficient Cr 6+ Removal with Activated Bio-Sorbent: Process Optimization

Subhakesh Mishra, Prativa Kar, Anil Giri
Show PDF Cite
This study investigated the biosorption of Cr 6+ from aqueous solution using a gelling derived activated bio-sorbent, with process conditions optimized through a Box–Behnken response surface design. The exhausted sorbent was characterized by SEM–EDX and FTIR to elucidate changes in surface morphology, elemental composition, and functional groups involved in chromium binding. A systematic series of experiments was performed to evaluate the main and interactive effects of pH, sorbent dosage, and contact time at a fixed initial Cr 6+ concentration and ambient temperature on removal efficiency. Under statistically optimized conditions at neutral pH, the activated bio-sorbent exhibited a maximum uptake capacity of 92.34 mg g -1 , underscoring its strong affinity for hexavalent chromium and its promise for practical wastewater treatment. The Box–Behnken design provided a robust quantitative framework for model development, significance testing, and prediction of process behavior across the investigated operating window. Analysis of variance yielded an F-value of 10.67 and a p-value of 0.0025, confirming that the quadratic model was statistically significant and suitable for describing Cr 6+ biosorption performance. Overall, the findings demonstrate the feasibility of employing this low-cost, gelling-based bio-sorbent as an efficient alternative to conventional adsorbents for chromium remediation. Future work should focus on regeneration and reuse, sorption–desorption cycling, and pilot-scale implementation, as well as integration with existing treatment trains to enhance process sustainability and support broader deployment in industrial effluent management systems. Attention to kinetic and equilibrium behavior, potential competing ions, and real effluent matrices will further clarify operational limits and guide translation from laboratory conditions to field practice successfully.

More from our Archive