Effective adsorption of phosphate using a Mg–Al–La composite from synthetic/real wastewater: adsorptive behaviour, column tests and economic evaluation

ABSTRACT

The present study utilised an adsorbent that integrates Mg with Al and La (i.e. MAL composite) to remove low-concentration phosphate from wastewater. The adsorption properties of MAL were identified through batch experiments of phosphate removal, in which the impacts of influencing factors such as initial pH and reaction time on the phosphate adsorption by MAL adsorbent were explored. Besides, the thermodynamics and kinetics were also investigated, where the phosphate adsorption follows the pseudo-second-order kinetics, indicating that chemisorption and internal diffusion control dominate the phosphate removal. Dynamic phosphate removal by MAL adsorbent was investigated using a fixed-bed column at different adsorbent particle sizes, flow rates and temperatures, in which the breakthrough curves were simulated. The phosphate removal by MAL adsorbent was examined at practical wastewater treatment, which achieves high efficiency and thus provides a preliminary basis for the commercial use of the adsorbent. Apart from this, the techno-economic analysis of phosphate adsorption was also conducted.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Phosphate adsorption
• wastewater
• kinetics
• fixed-bed column
• Mg–Al–La composite
• technical and economic analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China [Grant Number 2022YFC3202702] and the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province [Grant Number 2022CFB718].

Notes on contributors

Wei Jiang

Prof. Dr. Wei Jiang is working at School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Wei's expertise and practical experience include organic solid treatment and recycling, adsorption and photocatalysis.

Xiao Liu

Mr. Xiao Liu is studying at School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. His interests include wastewater treatment and composting.

Luonan Zha

Ms. Luonan Zha is working at CUCDE Environmental Technology Co., Ltd and she is an expert in the field of wastewater treatment.

Qian Tang

Ms. Qian Tang is studying at School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology as a PhD candidate and her interests include biological wastewater treatment and enhanced nitrogen removal.

Songlin Wang

Prof. Dr. Songlin Wang is working at School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Songlin's expertise and practical experience include membrane technology and wastewater treatment.

Yongzheng Ren

Prof. Dr. Yongzheng Ren is working at School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Yongzheng's expertise and practical experience include constructed wetlands and enhanced nitrogen removal.

Dongqi Liu

Prof. Dr. Dongqi Liu is working at School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Dongqi's expertise and practical experience include microbial technology and wastewater treatment.

Daosheng Li

Mr. Daosheng Li is working at School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology and responsible for laboratory management. His interests include adsorption and wastewater treatment.

Zizheng Liu

Prof. Dr. Zizheng Liu is working at School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University. Zizheng's expertise and practical experience include environmental photochemistry and advanced oxidation technology.

Yuanyao Ye

Dr. Yuanyao Ye is currently a Lecturer at School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Yuanyao's expertise and practical experience include advanced biological waste treatment processes, resource recovery, environmental impacts assessment, circular economy–based clean technologies, and minimization of wastes and emissions. Yuanyao has published > 30 papers in high–impact journals as the first/corresponding author.