Developing a multi-functional modified zeolite for nutrient removal for eutrophic lake water

废水和农业径流中的营养物质(如磷)会导致湖泊富营养化，导致藻类水华，对水生生物造成负面影响，并对人和动物构成风险。这项研究的主要目标是开发一种廉价而有效的沸石基吸附剂来吸收富营养化水中的磷。为了提高天然沸石的除磷能力，需要对天然沸石进行化学改性。利用阳离子表面活性剂、金属阳离子和纳米颗粒等改性方法可以制备沸石基阴离子吸附剂。在本项目中，将考虑用镁和铵盐等无机物种对沸石进行改性，以开发出一种多功能的除磷吸附剂。将对富含营养物质的吸附剂进行强化淋洗试验，以研究长期暴露于环境元素下吸附的营养物质的去向。据我们所知，这是一项亟需的研究，其他任何研究小组都没有报道过。吸附/脱附反应的数学模型将被用来评估不同环境条件下的释放曲线。下一步是评估沸石改性过程的实际成本，以推荐简化的制造工艺。这包括与其他商业上可用的工艺的比较分析。

Nutrients (e.g. phosphorous) from wastewater and agricultural runoff cause lake eutrophication leading to algal blooms that result in negative effects on aquatic life and pose risks to people and animals. The main objective of this research is to develop an inexpensive, yet effective, zeolite-based adsorbent to uptake phosphate from eutrophic water. In order to enhance natural zeolite capacity for phosphate removal, chemical modification of the raw zeolite is required. Zeolite-based anion adsorbents can be developed using different methods such as modification with cationic surfactant, metallic cations and nanoparticles. In this project, modification of zeolite with inorganic species such as magnesium and ammonium salts will be considered to develop a multifunctional adsorbent for phosphate removal. An intensified leaching test will be conducted on the nutrient laden adsorbents to study the fate of adsorbed nutrients under long-term exposure to environmental elements. This is a much-needed study that, to the best of our knowledge, has not been reported by any other research team. Mathematical modeling of adsorption/desorption reactions will be employed to evaluate the release profile under different environmental conditions.The next step is to evaluate the actual cost for the zeolite modification process in order to recommend a simplified manufacturing process. This includes a comparative analysis with other commercially available processes.