Modified biogas residues as an eco-friendly and easily-recoverable biosorbent for nitrate and phosphate removals from surface water

J Hazard Mater. 2020 Jan 15:382:121073. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121073. Epub 2019 Aug 21.

Abstract

Effective managements of organic solid waste and surface water eutrophication can reuse/reduce solid waste resources, and ensure surface water safety. Herein, an easily-recoverable amine-functionalized biosorbent was developed from biogas residue (BR-N) for nitrate and phosphate removals from surface water. Physicochemical characteristics revealed that BR-N has a cross-staggered structure with abundant quaternary-amine groups to enhance the diffusion and electrostatic attraction of nitrate/phosphate. In batch studies, nitrate/phosphate could be effectively removed by the BR-N within a wide pH range of 5.0-9.0, and the maximum adsorption capacities of BR-N were 64.12 mg/g for nitrate and 34.40 mg P/g for phosphate. After continuous 8 cycles of adsorption-desorption, BR-N still exhibited >82% adsorption capacity for nitrate/phosphate removals, implying the high chemical stability and reusability for water treatment. Whereafter, BR-N has real application prospect in water treatment, which could effectively treat ˜380, ˜260 and ˜760 bed volumes (BV) of three actual eutrophic surface water to satisfy the surface water standard of China (GB3838-2002). The cost of BR-N was 2.89 $/kg evaluated by energy-economy assessment, indicating the low-cost production of biogas residue-based adsorbent for treating eutrophic surface water. Overall, this study provides a new idea for high-value utilization of organic solid waste and purification of eutrophic water.

Keywords: Biogas residue; Easily-recoverable; Nitrate; Phosphate; Surface water treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Biofuels*
  • Eutrophication
  • Lakes
  • Nitrates / chemistry*
  • Phosphates / chemistry*
  • Waste Products*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry*
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Biofuels
  • Nitrates
  • Phosphates
  • Waste Products
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical