REVERSIBLE SORPTION OF PHOSPHORUS ON ZIRCONIA AND DESIGN OF ADSORPTION UNIT FOR PHOSPHORUS POLLUTION ABATEMENT
| Author(s) | Roberts, Tyler | |
| Date Accessioned | 2018-10-04T15:18:42Z | |
| Date Available | 2018-10-04T15:18:42Z | |
| Publication Date | 2018-05 | |
| 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. | en_US |
| Advisor | Raul Lobo | |
| Program | Chemical Engineering | |
| URL | http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/23873 | |
| Publisher | University of Delaware | en_US |
| Keywords | Chemical Engineering,reversible sorption, phosphorous, zirconia,phosphorous pollution abatement | en_US |
| Title | REVERSIBLE SORPTION OF PHOSPHORUS ON ZIRCONIA AND DESIGN OF ADSORPTION UNIT FOR PHOSPHORUS POLLUTION ABATEMENT | en_US |
| Type | Thesis | en_US |