Reusability of iron oxyhydroxide agglomerates adsorbent for repetitive phosphate removal

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Physicochemical and engineering aspects, 2019-10, Vol.579, p.123680, Article 123680
• Main Authors: Shemer, Hilla, Armush, Ahmad, Semiat, Raphael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Desorption; Phosphorous; Secondary effluent; Submerged membrane reactor
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2019.123680

[Display omitted] Phosphate release to receiving water bodies promotes eutrophication. Therefore it is a common practice to remove phosphate from domestic wastewater. Yet, the conventional secondary treatment most often require a polishing step as to comply with rigorous regulations. Semi-batch adsorption experiments demonstrated the feasibility of phosphate removal, from synthetic secondary effluent, by adsorption onto iron oxyhydroxide agglomerates (IOAs) in a submerged membrane reactor. Sedimentation of the IOAs, their regeneration and reusability were investigated. Additionally, the reuse of the desorbing solution was examined. Techno-economic evaluation of the cost of chemicals required for synthesis and regeneration of the IOAs is presented. The potential application of the IOAs as a renewable adsorbent was demonstrated by the high adsorption capacity which was not significantly changed with the adsorption/regeneration cycle number (about 93% of initial adsorption capacity was obtained in the fifth adsorption cycle) as well as the lower chemical cost of IOAs regeneration as compared to their synthesis.