Remediation of Heavy Metals from Industrial Calcium-Rich Waste Generated during Sugar Beet Processing by Optimization of Chemical Precipitation Parameters

Remediation of Heavy Metals from Industrial Calcium-Rich Waste Generated during Sugar Beet Processing by Optimization of Chemical Precipitation Parameters | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Remediation of Heavy Metals from Industrial Calcium-Rich Waste Generated during Sugar Beet Processing by Optimization of Chemical Precipitation Parameters Alireza Bahramian, Mohammad Mahdi Salmanipour This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9392817/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Producing precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) from hazardous industrial calcium-rich waste (CRW) generated during sugar beet processing has great environmental and economic benefits. In this study, we synthesized and characterized PCC in a bench-scale precipitation unit. The alkaline property, suitable carbonate content (63.7%), specific surface area (22.7 m 2 /g), as well as the presence of hydroxyl –OH and Si-O groups in CRW, provide favorable conditions for production of PCC. The impact of process parameters on the removal efficiency of heavy metals (HMs) was studied using response surface methodology through a Box-Behnken design of experiments to derive a second-order polynomial regression model. The dilution ratio, solution pH, chelating agent concentration, and contact time had the greatest to least effect on the results, respectively. Changes in the dilution ratio and solution pH had the greatest impact on the removal of Ti, Cr, Zn, and Al, but the least effect on Mg, Mn, and Pb removal. Conversely, variations in chelating agent concentration and contact time most significantly affected the removal of Mg, Mn, and Pb. An optimal pH range of ~ 8.5–9.0 was identified for maximizing the removal of HMs, except for Fe. Removal efficiencies for Cr, Cu, Ti, and Zn reached up to 98%, while Pb, Mn, and Mg exhibited lower removal rates (~ 53–58%). Under alkaline conditions, the removal efficiency followed this order: Ti > Cr > Zn > Cu > Fe > Si > Al > Hg > Pb > Mn > Mg. Since the initial metal content of Ti, Cr, Cu, and Zn was below 80 mg/kg, dilution effectively enhanced their removal rates. Calcium-rich waste Optimization of precipitation parameters Industrial-scale Heavy metals Removal efficiency Full Text Supplementary Files GraphicalAbstract.docx Highlights.docx SupplementaryInformation.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 17 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 16 Apr, 2026 First submitted to journal 14 Apr, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9392817","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":625107450,"identity":"e9604de8-bf9a-48ba-909c-fc1f2fe985bb","order_by":0,"name":"Alireza 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Research","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Calcium-rich waste, Optimization of precipitation parameters, Industrial-scale, Heavy metals, Removal efficiency","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9392817/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9392817/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eProducing precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) from hazardous industrial calcium-rich waste (CRW) generated during sugar beet processing has great environmental and economic benefits. In this study, we synthesized and characterized PCC in a bench-scale precipitation unit. The alkaline property, suitable carbonate content (63.7%), specific surface area (22.7 m\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e/g), as well as the presence of hydroxyl \u0026ndash;OH and Si-O groups in CRW, provide favorable conditions for production of PCC. The impact of process parameters on the removal efficiency of heavy metals (HMs) was studied using response surface methodology through a Box-Behnken design of experiments to derive a second-order polynomial regression model. The dilution ratio, solution pH, chelating agent concentration, and contact time had the greatest to least effect on the results, respectively. Changes in the dilution ratio and solution pH had the greatest impact on the removal of Ti, Cr, Zn, and Al, but the least effect on Mg, Mn, and Pb removal. Conversely, variations in chelating agent concentration and contact time most significantly affected the removal of Mg, Mn, and Pb. An optimal pH range of ~\u0026thinsp;8.5\u0026ndash;9.0 was identified for maximizing the removal of HMs, except for Fe. Removal efficiencies for Cr, Cu, Ti, and Zn reached up to 98%, while Pb, Mn, and Mg exhibited lower removal rates (~\u0026thinsp;53\u0026ndash;58%). Under alkaline conditions, the removal efficiency followed this order: Ti\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Cr\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Zn\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Cu\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Fe\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Si\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Al\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Hg\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Pb\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Mn\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Mg. Since the initial metal content of Ti, Cr, Cu, and Zn was below 80 mg/kg, dilution effectively enhanced their removal rates.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Remediation of Heavy Metals from Industrial Calcium-Rich Waste Generated during Sugar Beet Processing by Optimization of Chemical Precipitation Parameters","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-25 04:15:39","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9392817/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2026-04-19T06:18:34+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-04-17T16:12:38+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-04-16T13:14:35+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"International Journal of Environmental Research","date":"2026-04-15T03:19:42+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"international-journal-of-environmental-research","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"IJER","sideBox":"Learn more about [International Journal of Environmental Research](https://www.springer.com/journal/41742)","snPcode":"41742","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/ijer/default2.asp...\n","title":"International Journal of Environmental Research","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"5810f4ad-e9f9-4604-a9d0-715eee8d39ed","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 25th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-25T04:15:40+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-25 04:15:39","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9392817","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9392817","identity":"rs-9392817","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}