Phosphate removal from aqueous solution by an adsorption ultrafiltration system

The present research describes an adsorption–ultrafiltration system for wastewater pretreatment in the desalination process. The study relates to an adsorption method for cleaning a solution containing phosphate contaminants followed by recovery of the adsorbent and the adsorbed material for adequate removal or further reuse. The technology provides an efficient and cost-effective method for phosphate removal from water. A strong effect was shown of iron oxide/hydroxide (Fe3+)-based agglomerated adsorbent concentration in purified water and pH level of treated water on removal efficiency. This technique achieved a residual phosphate concentration lower than 0.1 mg/l as P, which is acceptable for wastewater pretreatment, and at least 95–98% regeneration efficiency of the phosphate with the proposed adsorbent. The phosphate adsorption capacity of the adsorption–ultrafiltration pilot-scaled system at a residual phosphate concentration of 0.1 mg/l in the solution more than one order of magnitude higher than these values reported in the literature.