Solvent Extraction of Copper Ions from Wastewater Using Reverse Micelles: Experimental and Optimization

In this study, the optimum conditions for different process parameters were determined for solvent extraction of copper ions from wastewater using reverse micelles. The process parameters viz. copper ion concentration, sodium bis-2-ethyl hexyl sulphosuccinate (AOT) concentration, solution pH, organic to aqueous phase volume ratio, and  NaCl concentration were taken into consideration in response surface methodology, ranging from 30-150 mg/L, 0.04-0.2 [M], 3-11, 0.2-1.0, 0-4 g/100 mL respectively and their effect on percentage removal of copper ions were studied. A regression model was developed by conducting response surface methodology for the analysis of the percentage removal of copper ions from wastewater. As many as fifty-four experiments were procured from the design of experiments for the percentage removal of copper ions. The developed model was employed to optimize the process parameters being considered to maximize the response. The optimum conditions were found to be 30 mg/L copper ion concentration, 0.20 [M] AOT concentration, 3.12 and pH, 0.57 organic to aqueous phase volume ratio, and 0.134 g/100 mL NaCl concentration. The obtained model was validated with experimental data and found to be best fitted within the tolerance limit. The effect of cross-interaction among the process parameters on the percentage removal of copper ions was also investigated. In this study, the copper ion concentration was analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS).