Removal of nitrate from aqueous solutions in batch systems using activated perlite: an application of response surface methodology

The aim of this research is to facilitate the adsorption of nitrate on perlite acid treated with dilute H2SO4 solutions. The activated perlite with 0.06 N sulfuric acid resulted in a higher efficiency in the removal of NO3− from aqueous solutions and was adopted for subsequent investigations. To analyze the process, a significant variable, i.e. removal efficiency (%) of nitrate and three dependent parameters as the process responses, was examined through a central composite design under the response surface methodology. The optimum conditions included pH 5, contact time of 120 min and an adsorbent amount of 0.7 g. The percentage removal of NO3− in batch administrations was 91.01. © 2016 The Authors Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering published by Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.