Abstract
Abstract Phosphate removal is an important measure to control eutrophication in aquatic environments, as it inhibits algal bloom. Salinity exists in these media along with high phosphate and currently available phosphate removal methods function poorly under this condition. In this study, the main objective is to fabricate a nanocomposite to improve and accelerate phosphate removal from saline solutions. To achieve this goal, Fe3O4/ZnO and a novel nanoadsorbent, Fe3O4/ZnO/CuO, were synthesized. Their characteristics were determined using FE-SEM, EDX, FT-IR, and XRD analyses, and their capability to adsorb phosphate from saline solutions was investigated and compared. The overall results suggest that the trimetallic oxide nanocomposite has great potential for the efficient removal of phosphate, in comparison with Fe3O4/ZnO. Experiments showed that Fe3O4/ZnO/CuO exhibited a remarkable sorption capacity of 156.35 mg P/g, fast sorption kinetic, strong selectivity for phosphate even in the presence of a high concentration of salinity (60 mg/L), and a wide applicable pH range of 3–6. Furthermore, using Fe3O4/ZnO/CuO, even a low dosage of 0.1 g/L was sufficient to reach an adsorption efficiency of 96.13% within 15 min compared to Fe3O4/ZnO (80.47% within 30 min). Moreover, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model best described the experimental adsorption data for both nanocomposites.
Highlights
Phosphorus (P), as an indispensable element, holds a vital nourishing role in the growth of all living organisms (Shan et al )
Using Fe3O4/ZnO/CuO, even a low dosage of 0.1 g/L was sufficient to reach an adsorption efficiency of 96.13% within 15 min compared to Fe3O4/ZnO (80.47% within 30 min)
More than 45% adsorption rate increase in saline solution by modifying Fe3O4/ZnO
Summary
Phosphorus (P), as an indispensable element, holds a vital nourishing role in the growth of all living organisms (Shan et al ). Their excessive presence in the environment originating from industries, agricultural, and domestic wastewater sources could accelerate the overgrowth of undesirable algae and aquatic plants. High amounts of salt are used in oil, textile, and leather industries. During their processes, a large amount of saline wastewater is produced, which enters surface waters. It is of high significance to find a method that functions well under this condition
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