Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy investigation, dose effect, kinetics and adsorption capacity of phosphate from aqueous solution onto laterite and sandstone

Environmental pollution by phosphate in developing countries is growing with extensive and diffuse pollution. Solving these problem with intensive technologies is very expensive. Using natural sorbent such as laterite and sandstone could be a solution. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the P-removal efficiency of these materials under various solution properties. Laterite and sandstone used mainly contain very high levels of finely grained iron and aluminum oxy-hydroxides and diverse dioctahedral clays. Phosphate adsorption tests were carried out using crushed laterite and sandstone. Optimal doses and pH effects on phosphate adsorption were studied with a potassium hydrogeno-phosphate solution of 5 mg/L at 30 °C. The main results were that the optimal dosage is 15 and 20 mg/L respectively for laterite and sandstone. The phosphate adsorptions efficiency of laterite and sandstone are pH-dependent, they increase when the pH grows up to the Point of Zero Charge (PZC) and slowly decrease beyond. The adsorption capacities of the materials also increase proportionally with the initial phosphate concentration. The pseudo-second-order successfully described the kinetics of the phosphate adsorption on the two adsorbents. With this model, the adsorption capacity values are obtained, which give an idea of the maximum phosphate uptake that the laterite and sandstone could achieve. The changes on the FTIR spectra of raw materials and phosphate adsorbed material confirm the mechanism of chemisorptions. Considering the above, laterite and sandstone could be used as efficient and cheap adsorbent for the removal of phosphate in aqueous solution.