Determination of the Effects of Operating Parameters on the Residual Turbidity of Quartz Suspensions by Design of Experiments

Abstract

This research represents the results of flocculation of quartz particles in suspensions with an anionic flocculant by applying response surface method (RSM). The experiments were designed and carried out according to the Bohn-Behnken Design (BBD) which is a type of RSM. A BBD with five independent parameters at three levels was applied to jar test studies to investigate the effect of variables examined on quartz flocculation process. Flocculant dosage, rapid mixing time, rapid mixing rate, solid ratio and settling time were tested to evaluate the main and interaction effects of these factors on residual turbidity. An empirical quadratic model with a high correlation coefficient was obtained for the estimation of residual turbidity within the investigated ranges of parameters.