{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T18:26:18Z","timestamp":1787336778905,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787270400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Deanship of Scientific Research at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University","award":["grant number IMSIU-DDRSP2602"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["grant number IMSIU-DDRSP2602"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    This study assesses physicochemical treatment methods for industrial electroplating wastewater (EPW). Monitoring at a full-scale Tunisian facility revealed considerable instability in conventional systems. Residual nickel concentrations ranged from 0.02\u2009\u00b1\u20090.01 to 60\u2009\u00b1\u20090.4 mg\/L. Chloride levels consistently exceeded regulatory thresholds, ranging from 442\u2009\u00b1\u20099\u20131418\u2009\u00b1\u200910 mg\/L. Over 24 weeks, three treatment configurations were evaluated: ferric chloride-based coagulation (Configuration 1), polyaluminum chloride coagulation (Configuration 2), and lime slurry-based chemical attack (Configuration 3). Configuration 3 showed the most consistent performance. It achieved 99% chromium removal, 97% nickel removal, and 50% chloride reduction, while reducing chemical operating costs by 69% (0. 134 \u20ac\u00b7 m \u00b3 compared to 0. 432 \u20ac\u00b7m\n                    <jats:sup>\u22123<\/jats:sup>\n                    ). A novel optimization strategy is presented that explicitly incorporates variability in influent nickel concentration ([Ni]\u1d62, 33\u201392 mg\/L) as an independent factor. This is applied within a Response Surface Methodology\u2013Central Composite Design, alongside pH (6.3\u20139.7) and flocculant dosage (2.2\u20139.4 mg\/L). Fluctuations in wastewater composition are treated as a controlled design variable rather than experimental noise. This approach produces a robust predictive model ([Ni]\n                    <jats:sub>f<\/jats:sub>\n                    \u2009=\u2009f([Ni]\u1d62, pH, [A-PAM]) with high accuracy (\n                    <jats:italic>R<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u00b2\u2009=\u20090.9917). The resulting equation enables real- time adaptive chemical dosing. Operators can calculate optimal pH and flocculant requirements based on measured influent concentrations. Statistical analysis identified significant pH-metal loading interactions (\n                    <jats:italic>F<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u20095.70,\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u20090.044). This confirms that optimal parameters systematically shift with influent composition. Under model-predicted conditions, residual nickel consistently remained below 2 mg\/L, despite substantial influent variability. This ensures regulatory compliance. The integrated approach shows that variability- responsive optimization enhances treatment efficacy, operational stability, and economic efficiency.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0345965","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T17:30:16Z","timestamp":1787333416000},"page":"e0345965","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Integrated optimization of electroplating wastewater treatment: A comparative assessment of physicochemical treatment configurations and process enhancement using response surface 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