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Optimization of microwave treatment for dewaterability enhancement of electroplating sludge

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Abstract

In this study, the dewaterability characteristics of electroplating sludge have been investigated after treatment with microwave irradiation. While specific resistance to filtration (SRF) was used to evaluate sludge dewaterability, water content (WC) in sludge and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) were determined to describe the observed changes in sludge dewaterability. SRF of sludge decreased from 3.54E + 09 m/kg to 4.33E + 08 m/kg, and WC decreased from 98.56 wt.% to 94.37 wt.% after microwave treatment at 800 W and 120 s. Sludge solubilization increased with microwave power, but deteriorated at higher contact times due to adverse effects of sustained microwave irradiation. A full factorial design along with response surface analysis was applied to determine an optimum combination of microwave power and contact time for effective dewaterability enhancement. Based on statistical observations and numerical optimization using desirability function analysis, 800 W and 141 s was the optimal conditioning requirement which yielded minimum SRF and WC, while also ensuring maximum sludge disintegration.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are highly thankful to Er. Suhail Ahmad Siddiqui for the assistance with experimental setup, and Prof. Anwar Khursheed and Prof. Sadaf Zaidi for sharing their valuable technical expertise. The authors acknowledge the support of technical staff of Department of Chemical Engineering, Aligarh Muslim University for provision of laboratory support during this research. Finally, thanks are due to the staff of lock industry at Aligarh for experimental assistance.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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  1. M Humam Zaim Faruqi

    Present address: Department of Chemical Engineering, Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, 202002, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, 202002, India

    Faisal Zia Siddiqui

  2. Department of Petroleum Studies, Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, 202002, India

    Saeikh Zaffar Hassan

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  1. M Humam Zaim Faruqi
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  2. Faisal Zia Siddiqui
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  3. Saeikh Zaffar Hassan
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Correspondence to M Humam Zaim Faruqi.

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Faruqi, M.H.Z., Siddiqui, F.Z. & Hassan, S.Z. Optimization of microwave treatment for dewaterability enhancement of electroplating sludge. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 23, 566–580 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-020-01141-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-020-01141-z

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