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Ca-citrate as a reagent for simultaneous removal of nitrate and phosphate from groundwater and surface water

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Abstract

Nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate can enter aquatic systems through surface runoff and groundwater flow, which may cause eutrophication. To alleviate this environmental problem, removal of nutrients from both groundwater and surface water is required. The purpose of this study was to develop a chemical reagent and to evaluate its effectiveness at removing nitrate and phosphate. Ca-citrate was proposed as a chemical reagent and was prepared in its solid form that can be applied to both groundwater and surface water. A batch experiment was conducted to confirm the feasibility of simultaneously removing nitrate and phosphate. The experimental results showed that nitrate concentrations were reduced from 11.16 mmol L−1 to 0.01 mmol L−1 after 48 h. The formation of nitrite suggested that denitrification is the mechanism by which nitrate is removed. The concentration of phosphate decreased from 10.35 mmol L−1 to 0.53 mmol L−1 over 120 h. Visual inspection of white precipitates and calculation of saturation indices indicated that phosphate was removed via precipitation of hydroxyapatite, a Ca-phosphate mineral. This study suggests that the solid form of Ca-citrate may be used as a reagent to simultaneously remove nitrate and phosphate from groundwater and surface water.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (NRF-2019R1A2C1086667) and by BK21 FOUR Program by Jeonbuk National University Research Grant.

Funding

This research was funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (NRF-2019R1A2C1086667) and by BK21 FOUR Program by Jeonbuk National University Research Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment and Energy, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, 54896, Republic of Korea

    Jiyoung Kang & Sung-Wook Jeen

  2. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and The Earth Environmental System Research Center, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, 54896, Republic of Korea

    Sung-Wook Jeen

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  1. Jiyoung Kang
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  2. Sung-Wook Jeen
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by JK. The first draft of the manuscript was written by JK and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sung-Wook Jeen.

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Kang, J., Jeen, SW. Ca-citrate as a reagent for simultaneous removal of nitrate and phosphate from groundwater and surface water. Environ Earth Sci 82, 270 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-10976-2

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