Cadmium Binding Capacity of Demineralized Whey Powder: A Box-Boehken Design Approach

This study explores the use of demineralized whey powder (d-WP) as an adsorbent for removing cadmium ions (Cd²⁺) from wastewater. Characterization of d-WP involved various analytical techniques: FTIR identified surface functional groups involved in adsorption, SEM examined surface morphology, elemental mapping visualized element distribution, and EDX determined elemental ratios. To optimize Cd²⁺ removal, a Box-Behnken Design (BBD) was utilized, evaluating four key parameters: initial Cd²⁺ concentration (10-50 mg/L), adsorbent dosage (0.5-1 g), contact time (10-60 minutes), and temperature (24-50 °C). The optimal conditions for maximum Cd²⁺ removal was found to be an initial concentration of 44 mg/L, a contact time of 26 minutes, an adsorbent dosage of 0.63 g, and a temperature of 45 °C. ANOVA confirmed the significant effects of these parameters on removal efficiency.