en

Phosphorus removal from aqueous solutions containing low concentration of phosphate using pyrite calcinate sorbent Chen, T.-H.; Wang, J.-Z.; Wang, J.; Xie, J.-J.; Zhu, C.-Z. & Zhan, X.-M. Abstract Natural pyrite was modified by calcination under nitrogen (N2) atmosphere to produce a novel sorbent for removing phosphorus (P) with low concentration from aqueous solutions. The crystallinity, porous texture, magnetic susceptibility and performance in P removal of pyrite calcinates depended on calcination temperatures. The sorbent obtained at calcination temperature of 500–600 °C possessed the most efficient P removal. Solution pH in the range of 3.0–9.0 and anions of chloridion (Cl-), nitrate (NO3)- and sulfate (SO4 2-) had ignorable effect on P removal. The batch adsorption experiment shows that the maximum sorption capacities for P of this novel sorbent (qm) were up to 1.61–5.36 mg P/g at adsorption temperatures of 15–35 °C. Dynamic sorption and regeneration experiments were conducted in an adsorption column filled with pyrite calcined at 600 °C. The study found that oxygen was an important control factor responsible for P adsorption because the oxidization of Fe2+ to Fe3+ on the surface of the sorbent followed by P being bound to a ferric hydroxide surface film was the crucial processes. The mechanism was confirmed with surface characterization techniques including field emission scanning electron microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This research potentially provides a cheap, abundant sorbent for P removal from the secondary effluent of municipal wastewater treatment plant. Keywords Calcinations; Low concentration of phosphate; Pyrite; Removal efficiency

© Copyright 2013 - Islamic Azad University (IAU)
Alternative site location: http://www.ijest.org