This study investigates optimized tartrazine uptake by activated carbon prepared from biosolids (BBAC). Different tartrazine concentrations (10–20 mg/L), adsorbent dosages (1.0–2.0 g), pH (2.0–4.0), and contact times (60–120 min) were tested. These independent variables formed a 24 full factorial experiment arranged as central composite rotative design (CCRD). Response surface methodology (RSM) analyzed the responses of 50 experimental runs. Tartrazine removal efficiency fluctuated between 76.2% and 99.9%. The experimental data were best fitted by a quadratic model (R2 > 0.95, p > 0.0001). All variables exerted statistically significant (p < 0.05) effects on the tartrazine uptake (initial concentration, p = 0.0011; BBAC dosage, p = 0.0004; pH, p < 0.0001; contact time, p < 0.0001). Optimized tartrazine uptake efficiency of 97.4% can happen when variables mutually correlate at 10.1 mg/L of tartrazine concentration, 1.07 g of adsorbent dosage, 2.13 of pH, and 116.9 min of contact time.
Practitioner points
Production of biosolids‐based activated carbon (BBAC) is presented.
Adsorptive affinity to tartrazine in aqueous solution was experimented.
Experimental conditions optimized by Response Surface Methodology.
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