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Enhancing soluble phosphorus removal within buffer strips using industrial by-products

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Abstract

Using industrial by-products (IBPs) in conjunction with buffer strips provides a potentially new strategy for enhancing soluble phosphorus (P) removal from agricultural runoff. Here, we investigate the feasibility of this approach by assessing the P sorption properties of IBPs at different solution-IBPs contact time (1–120 min) and solution pH (3, 5.5, 7.5), as well as possible adverse environmental effects including P desorption or heavy metal mobilisation from IBPs. Batch experiments were carried out on two widely available IBPs in the UK that demonstrated high P sorption capacity but different physicochemical characteristics, specifically ochre and Aluminium (Al) based water treatment residuals (Al-WTR). A series of kinetic sorption–desorption experiments alongside kinetic modelling were used to understand the rate and the mechanisms of P removal across a range of reaction times. The results of the kinetic experiments indicated that P was initially sorbed rapidly to both ochre and Al-WTR, followed by a second phase characterised by a slower sorption rate. The excellent fits of kinetic sorption data to a pseudo-second order model for both materials suggested surface chemisorption as the rate-controlling mechanism. Neither ochre nor Al-WTR released substantial quantities of either P or heavy metals into solution, suggesting that they could be applied to buffer strip soils at recommended rates (≤30 g kg−1 soil) without adverse environmental impact. Although the rate of P sorption by freshly-generated Al-WTR applied to buffer strips reduced following air-drying, this would not limit its practical application to buffer strips in the field if adequate contact time with runoff was provided.

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Abbreviations

IBPs:

Industrial by-products

P:

Phosphorus

WTR:

Water treatment residuals

SRP:

Soluble reactive phosphorus

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Ian Hotson from United Utilities, Stuart Widdowson from the UK Coal Authority and Joe Bartram from Integrated Water Services (IWS) for sourcing and providing information on the by-products used in this study. We would like to thank Helen Quirk for her support in laboratory analyses. This research was supported by IDB merit scholarship program for high technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK, LA1 4YQ

    Reza Habibiandehkordi, John N. Quinton & Ben W. J. Surridge

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  1. Reza Habibiandehkordi
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  2. John N. Quinton
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  3. Ben W. J. Surridge
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Correspondence to Reza Habibiandehkordi.

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Responsible editor: Bingcai Pan

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Habibiandehkordi, R., Quinton, J.N. & Surridge, B.W.J. Enhancing soluble phosphorus removal within buffer strips using industrial by-products. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 12257–12269 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3164-5

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