REVERSIBLE SORPTION OF PHOSPHORUS ON ZIRCONIA AND DESIGN OF ADSORPTION UNIT FOR PHOSPHORUS POLLUTION ABATEMENT
Date
2018-05
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
The ability of monoclinic zirconia to reversibly sorb phosphorus as a potential
means of reducing the agricultural impact on eutrophication in the Chesapeake Bay
Watershed is explored in this paper. The maximum batch adsorption capacity of
zirconia was measured to be 3.19 mg P/g ZrO2. A custom-built and automated
reversible sorption experimental unit was utilized to optimize the flow rate, inflow
phosphorus concentration, and zirconia mass in order to observe the entire adsorption
behavior during each experiment. Reversible sorption experiments with up to four
cycles showed the importance of higher ammonium hydroxide solution concentrations
to promote complete desorption of phosphorus when recycling the zirconia. The
ability of zirconia to selectively adsorb phosphorus from a farm water runoff sample
experiment was inconclusive due to extrapolated phosphorus concentrations below
detection limits and due to the fact that observed adsorption and desorption of organic
matter could indicate the organic matter is competing with phosphorus for binding. A
reversible sorption unit was also designed for implementation at a farm in Maryland
and it predicts removal of 57.5 pounds of phosphorus each year over its lifetime of
five years, with ammonium hydroxide usage and unit price being the most significant
factors in overall raw material costs. If the research presented herein can promote
implementation of zirconia to prevent eutrophication or provide general guidance in
terms of experimental methods and data analysis, this work will have been a success.
Description
Keywords
Chemical Engineering,reversible sorption, phosphorous, zirconia,phosphorous pollution abatement