Feasibility of electrodeionization for phosphate removal

Abstract

In this study, electrodeionization (EDI) in bath mode was tested regarding its capability to remove phosphate (PO43−) ions from aqueous solutions. Various parameters affecting the phosphate removal rate via EDI were determined. The results showed that the phosphate removal rate depends on the applied voltage and that the optimum potential was 15 V, corresponding to a phosphate removal rate of 97%. Changing the stream rate of the phosphate‐containing solution also affected the phosphate removal rate. Changing the pH of the phosphate‐containing solution from 2 to 6 enhanced the phosphate removal rate from 80% to 97%. The presence of Cl−, NO3−, and SO42− ions did not affect the phosphate removal rate. The highest mass transfer coefficient (k) of phosphate was calculated to be 7.85 × 10−4 m/s, and the flux was calculated to be 3.72 × 10−4 mol/m2 s1 at a flow velocity of 3 L/h. Thus, the study results showed the feasibility of EDI as an alternative membrane process for removing phosphate from aqueous solutions.Practitioner Points Electrodeionization was employed for the removal of phosphate. The removal of phosphate exhibited dependence on applied potential. EDI demonstrated a remarkable 97% efficiency in phosphate removal. The pH of the solution was found to influence the removal rate.