Catalytic ozonation process for removal of methylene blue and reactive black 5 dyes using activated carbon produced from egg shell modified by magnesium oxide: determination of optimum process conditions using taguchi method

Taguchi optimization method (L16 orthogonal array) was applied as an experimental design to determine optimum conditions for methylene blue and reactive black 5 dyes removal from textile wastewater by catalytic ozonation process using activated carbon produced from egg shell modified by magnesium oxide. A batch ozonation reactor was used for ozonation. Egg shells were collected and in the last stage of preparation process subjected to thermal activation at 800oC for 2 hours in a muffle furnace. Finally, it was modified by magnesium oxide. The effects of various parameters at 4 different levels for each color were investigated using an L-16 Taguchi method and final concentrations of dyes were calculated by spectrophotometer. The results showed that this process was an efficient and effective method in reducing the concentration of dyes in textile wastewater effluent.