Effect of CeO2 on the preparation of functional ceramsite and the adsorption effect of ammonia-nitrogen wastewater treatment

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of rare earth oxide CeO2 on the physical properties of ceramsite and its efficiency in treating ammonia-nitrogen wastewater. Ceramsite was prepared from solid waste with 10% coal gangue added as a pore-forming agent. Ceramsite sample I with CeO2 and sample II without CeO2 were prepared using pure reagents. The process parameters for both samples were optimized using an orthogonal test. Additionally, the effects of CeO2 on ceramsite performance and the treatment of ammonia-nitrogen wastewater were studied, and the adsorption mechanism of CeO2 on ammonia-nitrogen wastewater was clarified. The process parameters for preparing ceramsite sample Ⅰ were: preheating for 30 min at 600 °C, followed by roasting for 20 min at 1090 °C. The parameters for preparing ceramsite sample Ⅱ were: preheating for 30 min at 600 °C, followed by roasting time for 15 min at 1090 °C. The presence of CeO2 increased the porosity of the ceramsite by 0.89% and the specific surface area by 0.66 m2/g. Under neutral environmental conditions of water samples, CeO2 increased the removal rate of ammonia nitrogen by 1.85%. Ceramsite has a high porosity and specific surface area, indicating that it has abundant internal pores, a large contact area with ammonia-nitrogen, a strong ability to remove ammonia nitrogen, and resistance to erosion and water flow shear, which are conducive to the treatment of ammonia-nitrogen wastewater.