Characterization of fly ash ceramic pellet for phosphorus removal

Abstract

Phosphorus has been recognized as a leading pollutant for surface water quality deterioration. In the Midwestern USA, subsurface drainage not only provides a pathway for excess water to leave the field but it also drains out nutrients like nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Fly ash has been identified as one of the viable materials for phosphorus removal from contaminated waters. In this study, a ceramic pellet was manufactured using fly ash for P absorption. Three types of pellet with varying lime and clay proportions by weight (type 1: 10% lime + 30% clay, type 2: 20% lime + 20% clay, and type 3: 30% lime + 10% clay) were characterized and evaluated for absorption efficiency. The result showed that type 3 pellet (60% fly ash with 30% lime and 10% clay) had the highest porosity (14%) and absorption efficiency and saturated absorption capacity (1.98 mg P/g pellet) compared to type 1 and 2 pellets. The heavy metal leaching was the least (30 μg/L of chromium after 5 h) for type 3 pellet compared to other two. The microcosmic structure of pellet from scanning electron microscope showed the type 3 pellet had the better distribution of aluminum and iron oxide on the surface compared other two pellets. This result indicates that addition of lime and clay can improve P absorption capacity of fly ash while reducing the potential to reduce chromium leaching.

Influence of Activators on Mechanical Properties of Modified Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Mortars

“…The mean value of particle sizes for the coal and co-fired fly ashes were practically similar (consecutively 56.02 and 57.96 μm) in comparison to biomass ash with a 38.47-μm mean diameter. The larger particle size of the RFA and BFA are likely a result [53][54][55] of the incomplete combustion, lower firing temperatures, use of wooden biomass, or all factors mentioned above. From the graphs of particles size distributions (Figure 2), it is possible to assume that the RFA sample has more unified particles' composition than the other two fly ashes.…”

Sponge effect of aerated concrete on phosphorus adsorption-desorption from agricultural drainage water in rainfall

“…Numerous studies on P desorption from fillers have been conducted, but most of those studies have primarily focused on the secondary pollution due to the P desorption from the fillers (Paradelo et al 2016;Li et al 2017;Zhou et al 2019). However, that a certain amount of P desorption from the fillers into the low P concentration water urges the aerated concrete to empty part of P adsorption capacity, and then the aerated concrete can re-adsorb the P well when the high P concentration water appears again in the next rainfall.…”

Advances in Biomass and Nature‐Derived Ceramic Membranes and Their Environmental Applications in Wastewater Treatment

“…The CFASH has a high potential application as a porous ceramic raw material owing to its high content of aluminosilicate, and as a cheap media for soil remediation and inexpensive absorbent for water treatment. [99][100][101][102][103] Highly porous CFASH ceramic granules were employed as packing materials for synthesizing a double-layer biofilter, containing CFASH, clay, and diatomite. This biofilter was effective in highly contaminated river water remediation.…”