Removal and Recovery of Phosphorus from Contaminated Water Using Novel, Reusable, Renewable Resource-Based Aluminum/Cerium Oxide Nanocomposite

Abstract

The combination of cerium oxide and aluminum oxide nanocomposites in quaternary ammonium–modified wood has been shown to be excellent for phosphorus (as phosphate) removal from contaminated waters. The results are better than using single metal oxides in the nanocomposite based on the adsorption capacity and kinetic rate. The mixed metal oxide nanocomposite on pine wood chips (a renewable resource) represent a green technology for phosphorus remediation. The process of preparation of nanocomposite of this material is straightforward, economically feasible, and environmentally friendly. There are no harmful chemicals or petroleum reagents used during the synthesis. In this study, adsorption isotherms (Langmuir and Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich) and kinetic studies (Lagergren pseudo-first and pseudo-second order, Elovich and Weber-Morris) were performed to determine the adsorption capacity and mechanism of the phosphorus removal by the nanocomposite. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, and Fourier-transfer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were analyzed to determine the size and structure of the nanocomposite as well as elements present on the surface of the wood chips. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 70.42 mg/g. The results from this study demonstrate that phosphorus levels in polluted water can be reduced from 10,000 parts per billion to 10 parts per billion. We also demonstrated that the phosphorus could be desorbed and the media regenerated for repeated use without loss of efficiency.