Sustainable utilization of FeO-modified activated lignite for aqueous phosphate removal and ANN modeling.

Journal: Environmental research
PMID: 39009211

Abstract

Lignites are widely available and cost-effective in many countries. Sustainable methods for their utilization drive innovation, potentially advancing environmental sustainability and resource efficiency. In the present study, FeO (∼25.1 nm) supported on KOH-activated lignite (A-L) displayed 8 times higher phosphate removal than pristine A-L (67.6 mg/g vs. 8.5 mg/g at pH 5, 50 mg of absorbent in 25 mL of 1500 ppm [phosphate]), owing to its abundant FeO (10 wt% of Fe) nanoparticle content. The removal occurred within ∼2 h, following a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Across pH levels ranging from 5.0 to 9.0, FeO-A-L's phosphate removal occurs via both chemisorption and precipitation, as evident by kinetic, pH, and XPS analyses. The phosphate adsorption fits better with the Freundlich isotherm. The combined benefits of facile recovery, rapid phosphate uptake, straightforward regeneration, and attractive post-adsorption benefits (e.g., possibly use as a Fe, P-rich fertilizer) make magnetic FeO-A-L a promising candidate for real-world applications. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modeling indicates an excellent accuracy (R = 0.99) in predicting the amount of phosphate removed by FeO-A-L. Sensitivity analysis revealed both temperature and initial concentration as the most influencing factors. Leveraging lignite in environmentally friendly applications not only addresses immediate challenges but also aligns with sustainability goals. The study clearly articulates the potential benefits of utilizing lignite for sustainable phosphate removal and recovery, offering avenues for mitigating environmental concerns while utilizing resources efficiently.

Authors

  • Hasara Samaraweera
    Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Western University, ON, N6H0B6, Canada. Electronic address: dsamaraw@uwo.ca.
  • Abdul Zahir
    National Textile Research Centre, National Textile University, Faisalabad, 37610, Pakistan.
  • Shah Saud Alam
    Mechanical Engineering, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA.
  • S Sameera Perera
    Lumigen Instrument Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
  • Md Abdullah Al Masud
    School of Architecture, Civil, Environmental and Energy Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea.
  • Afzal Husain Khan
    Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
  • Daniel Olabode Oguntuyi
    Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA.
  • Wana Yunusu
    Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA.
  • Won Sik Shin
    School of Architecture, Civil, Environmental and Energy Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea.
  • Mohamed Mostafa Mohamed
    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates; National Water and Energy Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates.
  • Todd Mlsna
    Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA.

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