Doehlert matrix was used to optimize the experimental conditions for the preparation of activated carbons from herb residues by vacuum chemical activation and traditional chemical activation using ZnCl2 as activation agent. The effects of activation temperature and impregnation ratio, the most influential factors of ZnCl2 chemical activation, were studied. The obtained activated carbons were characterized by total yield and methylene blue and iodine adsorption value. Each response has been described by a second-order model, and the predicted model presented a good agreement with experimental data. The results showed that activated carbons prepared by vacuum chemical activation have higher yield and better adsorption capacity. The removal percentages of methylene blue for the two optimal activated carbons and a commercial activated carbon were determined. The activated carbon prepared by vacuum chemical activation exhibited the highest methylene blue removal efficiency.
Jiahui Xian,Min Liu,Wei Chen,Chunyong Zhang,Degang Fu
The electrochemical incineration of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) with boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode had been initially performed under galvanostatic conditions. The main and interaction effects of four operating parameters (flow rate, applied current density, sulfate concentration and initial DTPA concentration) on mineralization performance were investigated. Under similar experimental conditions, Doehlert matrix (DM) and central composite rotatable design (CCRD) were used as statistical multivariate methods in the optimization of the anodic oxidation processes. A comparison between DM model and CCRD model revealed that the former was more accurate, possibly due to its higher operating level numbers employed (7 levels for two variables). Despite this, these two models resulted in quite similar optimum operating conditions. The maximum TOC removal percentages at 180 min were 76.2% and 73.8% for case of DM and CCRD, respectively. In addition, with the aid of quantum chemistry calculation and LC/MS analysis, a plausible degradation sequence of DTPA on BDD anode was also proposed.