Optimization of pulp mill effluent treatment with catalytic adsorbent using orthogonal second-order (Box-Behnken) experimental design.

Novel catalytic adsorbent (ruthenium on carbon) was employed for the treatment of pulp mill effluent in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Mathematical model and optimization of the process regarding the most favorable COD (%), TOC (%) and color (%) removal rates was developed and performed with experimental design taking into account catalytic adsorption process kinetics. As the initial experimental design, 3(3-1) half-fractional factorial design (H-FFD) was accomplished at two levels to study the significance of the main effects, such as catalytic adsorbent (g l(-1)) and hydrogen peroxide (ppm) concentrations using the response surface methodology (RSM).