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Use of modified clays for removal of phosphorus from aqueous solutions

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Abstract

Phosphorus (P) removal from aqueous solutions was investigated using modified bentonite, calcite, kaolinite, and zeolite with FeCl3, CaCl2, and NaCl. The maximum sorption capacity of P was obtained by modified adsorbents with Fe3+ ions (Fe-adsorbents). The results showed that P sorption capacity by Fe-adsorbents (bentonite (1.31 mg g−1), calcite (1.97 mg g−1), kaolinite (1.31 mg g−1), and zeolite (1.58 mg g−1)) was improved by ∼467, 107, 409, and 427 %, respectively, compared to unmodified adsorbents (bentonite (0.28 mg g−1), calcite (1.82 mg g−1), kaolinite (0.32 mg g−1), and zeolite (0.37 mg g−1)). Sorption isotherms were well described by the Freundlich model. Desorption experiments showed that the desorption capacity was in order of unmodified adsorbents > modified adsorbents with Na+ ions (Na-adsorbents) > modified adsorbents with Ca2+ ions (Ca adsorbents) > Fe-adsorbents. Effect of pH and ion strength was also investigated. At different pH, changes in the ionic strength had little effect on the adsorption. Results showed that double-layer model (DLM) could model P adsorption onto modified adsorbents over a wide range of pH and varying ionic strength. According to the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and saturation indices (SIs), high P removal by adsorbents was partly due to the P precipitation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

    Somayeh Moharami & Mohsen Jalali

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  1. Somayeh Moharami
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  2. Mohsen Jalali
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Correspondence to Somayeh Moharami.

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Moharami, S., Jalali, M. Use of modified clays for removal of phosphorus from aqueous solutions. Environ Monit Assess 187, 639 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4854-2

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