Performance of novel biopolymer-based activated carbon and resin on phosphate elimination from stream

•Novel biopolymer activated carbon and resin were prepared from Arundo donax Linn.•Adsorption capacity of stratified column for phosphate was evaluated.•Adsorption and desorption isotherm of phosphate by the biosorbents were determined.•Raman spectra were used to evaluate the phosphate-laden samples.

Arundo donax Linn-based resin (ADI-resin) and Arundo donax Linn-based activated carbon (ADI-AC) were prepared for phosphate elimination from stream. Characteristics (BET surface area, Zeta potential, SEM, FTIR, and Raman spectra) of the biosorbents indicated that some required functional groups have been grafted onto the ADI-resin. The regenerated ADI-resin achieved 92–94% of adsorption capacity even after seven cycles of adsorption and desorption. However, only about 15–25% of phosphate could be desorbed from the ADI-AC at the same desorption conditions. A stratification-packed column with different particles sizes of ADI-resin/ADI-AC was also designed. When the stratified resins with different particle sizes were introduced, the bed utilization of ADI-resin was greatly enhanced. In contrast, the stratified ADI-AC packed in column was not effective as the performance of stratified ADI-resin.

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