Phosphorus elimination from aqueous solution using 'zirconium loaded okara' as a biosorbent

T A H Nguyen; H H Ngo; W S Guo; J L Zhou; J Wang; H Liang; G Li

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2014.07.069

Phosphorus elimination from aqueous solution using 'zirconium loaded okara' as a biosorbent

Bioresour Technol. 2014 Oct:170:30-37. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.07.069. Epub 2014 Jul 24.

Authors

T A H Nguyen¹, H H Ngo², W S Guo¹, J L Zhou¹, J Wang³, H Liang⁴, G Li⁴

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
² Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia. Electronic address: ngohuuhao121@gmail.com.
³ School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin 300387, China.
⁴ School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 150090, China.

PMID: 25118150
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.07.069

Abstract

This work deals with the capture of phosphorus from aqueous solutions by biosorption onto zirconium loaded okara (ZLO). The batch-mode experiments were conducted to examine the effect of pH, biosorbent dose, initial phosphorus concentration, contact time, and temperature on the process. It was found that, the adsorption was most favored in the pH range of 2-6. The optimal doses for the adsorption, at initial phosphorus concentrations of 5, 10, 25, 50mg/L were 2, 3, 7, 10g/L, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of ZLO was approximately 44.13mg PO4/g at 298K. The phosphate removal was rapid, reaching 95% in 30min. Freundlich model best fitted the equilibrium data, while Pseudo-second order model satisfactorily described the kinetic results. Thermodynamic analysis revealed feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic nature of the process. The research would be beneficial for developing a promising, eco-friendly phosphorus biosorbent from a plentiful AWB - okara.

Keywords: Biosorbent; Isotherms; Kinetics; Okara; Phosphate removal.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adsorption
Biodegradation, Environmental
Kinetics
Molybdenum
Phosphorus / analysis
Phosphorus / chemistry*
Plant Proteins / chemistry*
Polysaccharides / chemistry*
Soy Foods
Thermodynamics
Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry*
Water Purification / methods*
Zirconium / chemistry*

Substances

Plant Proteins
Polysaccharides
Water Pollutants, Chemical
okara, Glycine max
Phosphorus
molybdenum blue
Molybdenum
Zirconium