Organic arsenic removal from an aqueous solution by iron oxide-coated fungal biomass: An analysis of factors influencing adsorption

A two-level seven-factor (27-2) fractional factorial design analysis was conducted to examine the parameters influencing dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) removal from an aqueous solution using iron oxide-coated A. niger biomass. The factors examined were the concentration of DMA in solution, the mass of the adsorbent, the solution temperature, the Ca2+ ions in solution, the Fe2+ ions in solution, the SO42− ions in solution, and the Cl− ions in solution. The magnitude of the influence of the factors considered on DMA removal was observed in the order: presence of Ca2+ ions in solution > the DMA concentration > solution temperature > presence of SO42− in solution > presence of Fe2+ in solution > the mass of adsorbent > the presence of Cl− in solution.