Abstract
Excess PO 3−4 from agricultural subsurface drainage and runoff degrades the overall water quality of the receiving surface waters in a cumulatively damaging process known as eutrophication. In the past 25 years, PO 3−4 removal by industrial byproducts and minerals has received considerable attention because these materials are both abundant and inexpensive. In this study, the saturated falling-head hydraulic conductivity and phosphate removal capability of granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), cement kiln dust (CKD), zeolite, silica sand, and coconut shell activated carbon (CS-AC) were assessed. GBFS, zeolite, silica sand, CS-AC, and 5:95% and 10:90% CKD/sand blends all exhibited hydraulic conductivities ≥0.001 cm/s. GBFS and the CKD/sand blends exhibited >98% PO 3−4 removal while CS-AC removed 70–79% of initial PO 3−4 concentrations. In contrast, silica sand and zeolite removed 21–58% of PO 3−4 . The phosphate removal data for each material was modeled against the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich, and Frumkin sorption isotherms to yield insight into possible removal mechanisms. Overall, GBFS, CKD, zeolite, silica sand, and CS-AC were sufficiently permeable and removed significant amounts of PO 3−4 and should be considered for use in treatment of agricultural effluent.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank Paul Ruehl of LaFarge North America, and Joe McEnaney of St. Cloud Mining (New Mexico) for providing the materials tested, the USGA for funding support, Carl Bolster (USDA-ARS) for statistical expertise, Barry Allred (USDA-ARS) for technical assistance, and both Sarah Hess (USDA-ARS) and Jeff Risley (USDA-ARS) for experimental assistance and sample processing.
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Agrawal, S.G., King, K.W., Fischer, E.N. et al. PO 3−4 Removal by and Permeability of Industrial Byproducts and Minerals: Granulated Blast Furnace Slag, Cement Kiln Dust, Coconut Shell Activated Carbon, Silica Sand, and Zeolite. Water Air Soil Pollut 219, 91–101 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0686-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0686-4