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Validation of polymer-based nano-iron oxide in further phosphorus removal from bioeffluent: laboratory and scaledup study

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Abstract

The efficient removal of phosphorous from water is an important but challenging task. In this study, we validated the applicability of a new commercially available nanocomposite adsorbent, i.e., a polymer-based hydrated ferric oxide nanocomposite (HFO-201), for the further removal of phosphorous from the bioeffluent discharged from a municipal wastewater treatment plant, and the operating parameters such as the flow rate, temperature and composition of the regenerants were optimized. Laboratory-scale results indicate that phosphorous in real bioeffluent can be effectively removed from 0.92 mg·L−1 to <0.5 mg·L−1 (or even<0.1 mg·L−1 as desired) by the new adsorbent at a flow rate of 50 bed volume (BV) per hour and treatable volume of 3500–4000 BV per run. Phosphorous removal is independent of the ambient temperature in the range of 15°C–40°C. Moreover, the exhausted HFO-201 can be regenerated by a 2% NaOH + 5% NaCl binary solution for repeated use without significant capacity loss. A scaled-up study further indicated that even though the initial total phosphorus (TP) was as high as 2 mg·L−1, it could be reduced to <0.5 mg·L−1, with a working capacity of 4.4–4.8 g·L−1 HFO-201. In general, HFO-201 adsorption is a choice method for the efficient removal of phosphate from biotreated waste effluent.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Xianlin Campus, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China

    Ming Hua, Lili Xiao, Bingcai Pan & Quanxing Zhang

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  1. Ming Hua
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  2. Lili Xiao
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  3. Bingcai Pan
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  4. Quanxing Zhang
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Correspondence to Bingcai Pan.

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Hua, M., Xiao, L., Pan, B. et al. Validation of polymer-based nano-iron oxide in further phosphorus removal from bioeffluent: laboratory and scaledup study. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 7, 435–441 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-013-0508-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-013-0508-1

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