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Use of zeolitized coal fly ash in the simultaneous removal of ammonium and phosphate from aqueous solution

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Abstract

Discharge of wastewater containing nitrogen and phosphate can cause eutrophication. Therefore, the development of an efficient material for the immobilization of the nutrients is important. In this study, a low calcium fly ash and high calcium fly ash were converted into zeolite using the hydrothermal method. The removal of ammonium and phosphate that coexist in aqueous solution by the synthesized zeolites were studied. The results showed that zeolitized fly ash could efficiently eliminate ammonium and phosphate at the same time. Saturation of zeolite with Ca2+ rather than Na+ favored the removal of both ammonium and phosphate because the cation exchange reaction by the NH4 + resulted in the release of Ca2+ into the solution and precipitation of Ca2+ with PO4 3− followed. An increase in the temperature elevated the immobilization of phosphate whereas it abated the removal of ammonium. Nearly 60% removal efficiency for ammonium was achieved in the neutral pH range from 5.5 to 10.5, while the increase or decrease in pH out of the neutral range lowered the adsorption. In contrast, the removal of phosphate approached 100% at a pH lower than 5.0 or higher than 9.0, and less phosphate was immobilized at neutral pH. However, there was still a narrow pH range from 9.0 to 10.5 favoring the removal of both ammonium and phosphate. It was concluded that the removal of ammonium was caused by cation exchange; the contribution of NH3 volatilization to immobilization at alkaline conditions (up to pH level of 11.4) was limited. With respect to phosphate immobilization, the mechanism was mainly the formation of precipitate as Ca3(PO4)2 within the basic pH range or as FePO4 and AlPO4 within acidic pH range.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Wu Deyi, Hu Zhanbo, Wang Xinze, He Shengbing & Kong Hainan

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  1. Wu Deyi
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  2. Hu Zhanbo
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  3. Wang Xinze
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  4. He Shengbing
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  5. Kong Hainan
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Correspondence to Wu Deyi.

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Wu, D., Hu, Z., Wang, X. et al. Use of zeolitized coal fly ash in the simultaneous removal of ammonium and phosphate from aqueous solution. Front.Environ.Sci.Eng.China 1, 213–220 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-007-0037-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-007-0037-x

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