Production of zeolitic materials in pilot scale based on coal ash for phosphate and potassium adsorption in order to obtain fertilizer

Bonetti, Beatriz; Waldow, Etienne C.; Trapp, Giovanna; Hammercshmitt, Marta E.; Ferrarini, Suzana F.; Pires, Marçal J. R.; Estevam, Sabrina T.; Aquino, Thiago F. D.

doi:10.1007/s11356-020-11447-y

Review Article
Published: 05 November 2020

Production of zeolitic materials in pilot scale based on coal ash for phosphate and potassium adsorption in order to obtain fertilizer

Beatriz Bonetti ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6213-9786¹,
Etienne C. Waldow¹,
Giovanna Trapp¹,
Marta E. Hammercshmitt¹,
Suzana F. Ferrarini^1,2,
Marçal J. R. Pires¹,
Sabrina T. Estevam³ &
Thiago F. D. Aquino³

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 28, pages 2638–2654 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

The use of different types of zeolites (X, Na-P1, and 4A) synthesized by different methods and scales were tested in this work to adsorb nutrients present in synthetic solutions and industrial effluents for later application as fertilizer. Modifications with calcium chloride were performed on the zeolite with the best performance to increase its adsorption capacity. The best performing zeolite was type X (ZXH) produced on a pilot scale by the hydrothermal process. Its adsorption capacity without modification was 149 mg P-PO₄/g zeolite and 349 mg K/g zeolite. With the change, there was a fourfold increase in these results, which were up to threefold higher than reported in the literature. The kinetic model that best characterized the adsorption process was the intraparticle diffusion model, and the equilibrium isotherm was that of Freundlich. The adsorption tests performed with industrial effluent showed high removal of the nutrients of interest (> 90% for PO₄³⁻ and > 95% for K⁺). The desorption tests with zeolites nutrient-loaded from synthetic solutions showed 13 to 24% PO₄³⁻ and 14 to 47% K⁺ release within 24 h, while for zeolite nutrient-loaded from effluent the release were 7 and 100% for PO₄³⁻ and K⁺, respectively. The results we obtained in this work indicated the potential use of zeolites in the treatment of effluent and its application as a fertilizer.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the CNPq (312489/2018-8) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES, Código de Financiamento 001).

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Students Beatriz Bonetti and Etienne C. Waldown receive a scholarship from CNPq (312489 / 2018-8) and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel - Brazil (CAPES, Financing Code 001).

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Materials Engineering and Technology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, PUCRS, Porto Alegre, RS, 90619-900, Brazil
Beatriz Bonetti, Etienne C. Waldow, Giovanna Trapp, Marta E. Hammercshmitt, Suzana F. Ferrarini & Marçal J. R. Pires
State University of Rio Grande do Sul–UERGS, São Francisco de Paula, RS, Brazil
Suzana F. Ferrarini
Beneficent Association of the Santa Catarina Coal Industry, SATC, Criciúma, Brazil
Sabrina T. Estevam & Thiago F. D. Aquino

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Beatriz Bonetti
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Etienne C. Waldow
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Giovanna Trapp
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Marta E. Hammercshmitt
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Suzana F. Ferrarini
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Marçal J. R. Pires
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Sabrina T. Estevam
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Thiago F. D. Aquino
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Bonetti, B., Waldow, E.C., Trapp, G. et al. Production of zeolitic materials in pilot scale based on coal ash for phosphate and potassium adsorption in order to obtain fertilizer. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 2638–2654 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11447-y

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Received: 22 June 2020
Accepted: 27 October 2020
Published: 05 November 2020
Issue Date: January 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11447-y

Keywords

Zeolite
Pilot scale
Adsorption
Nutrients
Wastewater
Fertilizer