Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
152551 Chemical Engineering Journal 2009 7 Pages PDF
Abstract

In the present investigation, Aspergillus niger isolated from pistachio shell was applied to remove iron impurities from an Iranian kaolin sample. In order to study the effects of initial pH, sucrose and spore concentration on oxalic and citric acid production, and consequently iron dissolution, response surface methodology based on a five-level, three-variable central composite design of experiments was employed. Three models were suggested to predict response values based on the mentioned variables. The most important variables on iron dissolution were initial pH, sucrose and spore concentration, respectively. Also, the highest iron concentration, 311.30 mg/l, was obtained when initial pH was 2, sucrose concentration, 70 g/l, and spore concentration, 35 × 107 spore/l, and represented the removal of 67.4% of the total iron contents of the clay.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemical Engineering Chemical Engineering (General)
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