Applying Taguchi robust design to the optimization of synthesis of barium carbonate nanorods via direct precipitation

An orthogonal array design was employed as a novel chemometric method for the optimization of operational conditions for synthesis of barium carbonate nanorods. BaCO3 nanorods were synthesied via a simple, controllable, and fast direct precipitation method via addition of barium ion solution to the bicarbonate reagent. Effects of various experimental conditions on the width of BaCO3 rods were quantitavely evaluated via analysis of variance. The obtained results revealed that barium carbonate nanorods can be synthesized by controlling significant parameters including barium and bicarbonate concentrations and temperature of the reactor. Based on the results of analysis of variance, 0.01 mol/L concentrations of both barium nitrate and sodium bicarbonate and a temperature of 20 °C found as optimum conditions for the effective preparation of barrium carbonate nanorods of 89 ± 10 nm width. The BaCO3 nanorods, prepared under optimum conditions, were characterized by various techniques including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV–vis spectrophotometery, FT-IR spectroscopy and thermal analysis methods. Meanwhile, sub-micron rods of BaCO3 were prepared by the aid of bioactive eggshell membrane as template. The results showed that BaCO3 sub-micron rods prepared by this technique possess an average diameter of about 200 nm.