Journal of Applied Science and Engineering

Published by Tamkang University Press

1.30

Impact Factor

2.10

CiteScore

Chawalit Chaiwong1,2, Thammarat Koottatep2, Yaowalak Chirasuwannaphot2,3, Chanikarn Thanasrilungkul2, Panadda Panchai2, Wilasinee Chanamarn2, Pongsak (Lek) Noophan1This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tamao Kasahara4, Sumeth Wongkiew5,6, and Chongrak Polprasert3

1Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand

2Environmental Engineering and Management, School of Environments Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, Pathumthani, Thailand

3Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand

4Laboratory of Ecohydrology, Division of Forest Sciences, Department of Agro-environmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395 Japan

5Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

6Water Science and Technology for Sustainable Environment Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand


 

Received: July 25, 2023
Accepted: November 5, 2023
Publication Date: December 13, 2023

 Copyright The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are cited.


Download Citation: ||https://doi.org/10.6180/jase.202409_27(9).0010  


Common adsorbents are typically developed to treat a sole targeted pollutant in wastewater. This research provides the multifunctional features of ceramsite, a sewage sludge-based adsorbents developed for removing phosphorus (P) and disinfecting pathogens in municipal wastewater. The ceramsite adsorbents were made by mixing sewage sludge with zeolite, bentonite, and magnesium oxide (MgO) powders. Batch experiment results revealed that the developed ceramsite adsorbents significantly removed phosphorus (0.45mgP/g), effectively inactivated fecal coliforms (3.7 log reduction). and reached an optimum hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 6 hours. Moreover, in the continuous filter columns, the developed adsorbents effectively removed P(0.14mgP/g : 93%) and simultaneously inactivated fecal coliforms (3.4 log reduction) in wastewater treatment plant effluent. The ratio of added MgO powder and pH values correlated well with phosphorus and pathogen removal results (R2 > 0.96). The adsorption isotherm for TP removal by the adsorbents (S50 and S60) fitted well with the Langmuir model  (R2 > 0.95). The kinetics of TP and pathogen removal by the adsorbents followed the pseudo-second order (R2 > 0.97) the first-order reaction models (R2 > 0.87), respectively.


Keywords: Adsorbents; Sewage sludge; Municipal wastewater; Phosphorus; Pathogens


  1. [1] D. Cordell, J.-O. Drangert, and S. White, (2009) “The story of phosphorus: global food security and food for thought" Global environmental change 19(2): 292–305.
  2. [2] L. Ngatia, J. M. Grace III, D. Moriasi, and R. Taylor, (2019) “Nitrogen and phosphorus eutrophication in marine ecosystems" Monitoring of marine pollution 1: 1–17.
  3. [3] N. Muisa, I. Nhapi, W. Ruziwa, and M. M. Manyuchi, (2020) “Utilization of alum sludge as adsorbent for phosphorus removal in municipal wastewater: A review" Journal of Water Process Engineering 35: 1011.
  4. [4] G. Xu, T. Wang, Y. Wei, Y. Zhang, and J. Chen, (2022) “Fecal coliform distribution and health risk assessment in surface water in an urban-intensive catchment" Journal of Hydrology 604: 127204.
  5. [5] S. Liu, G. T. Daigger, B. Liu, W. Zhao, and J. Liu, (2020) “Enhanced performance of simultaneous carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus removal from municipal wastewater in an anaerobic-aerobic-anoxic sequencing batch reactor (AOASBR) system by alternating the cycle times" Bioresource technology 301: 122750.
  6. [6] C. Chaiwong, T. Koottatep, and C. Polprasert, (2021) “Effects of specific wavelengths of lights on performance of biofilm photobioreactor for treating septic tank effluent" Journal of Water Process Engineering 40: 101907.
  7. [7] P. Izadi, P. Izadi, and A. Eldyasti, (2020) “Design, operation and technology configurations for enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process: a review" Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology 19: 561–593.
  8. [8] C. Pratt, S. A. Parsons, A. Soares, and B. D. Martin, (2012) “Biologically and chemically mediated adsorption and precipitation of phosphorus from wastewater" Current opinion in Biotechnology 23(6): 890–896.
  9. [9] R. Bashar, K. Gungor, K. Karthikeyan, and P. Barak, (2018) “Cost effectiveness of phosphorus removal processes in municipal wastewater treatment" Chemosphere 197: 280–290.
  10. [10] C. C. Breda, M. B. Soares, R. F. R. Tavanti, D. G. Viana, O. da Silva Freddi, A. R. Piedade, D. Mahl, R. C. Traballi, and I. A. Guerrini, (2020) “Successive sewage sludge fertilization: Recycling for sustainable agriculture" Waste management 109: 38–50.
  11. [11] Q. Ping, X. Lu, Y. Li, and G. Mannina, (2020) “Effect of complexing agents on phosphorus release from chemicalenhanced phosphorus removal sludge during anaerobic fermentation" Bioresource technology 301: 122745.
  12. [12] S. Guida, G. Rubertelli, B. Jefferson, and A. Soares, (2021) “Demonstration of ion exchange technology for phosphorus removal and recovery from municipal wastewater" Chemical Engineering Journal 420: 129913.
  13. [13] G. Lee, S. Modarresi, and M. M. Benjamin, (2019) “Efficient phosphorus removal from MBR effluent with heated aluminum oxide particles (HAOPs)" Water research 159: 274–282.
  14. [14] R. Mohammadi, W. Tang, and M. Sillanpää, (2021) “A systematic review and statistical analysis of nutrient recovery from municipal wastewater by electrodialysis" Desalination 498: 114626.
  15. [15] J. T. Bunce, E. Ndam, I. D. Ofiteru, A. Moore, and D. W. Graham, (2018) “A review of phosphorus removal technologies and their applicability to small-scale domestic wastewater treatment systems" Frontiers in Environmental Science 6: 8.
  16. [16] T. Prot, V. Nguyen, P. Wilfert, A. Dugulan, K. Goubitz, D. De Ridder, L. Korving, P. Rem, A. Bouderbala, G. J. Witkamp, et al., (2019) “Magnetic separation and characterization of vivianite from digested sewage sludge" Separation and Purification Technology 224: 564–579.
  17. [17] W. Huang, Y. Zhang, and D. Li, (2017) “Adsorptive removal of phosphate from water using mesoporous materials: A review" Journal of Environmental Management 193: 470–482.
  18. [18] J. Nie, Q. Wang, S. Gao, C. S. Poon, Y. Zhou, and J.-s. Li, (2021) “Novel recycling of incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) and waste bentonite as ceramsite for Pb-containing wastewater treatment: Performance and mechanism" Journal of Environmental Management 288: 112382.
  19. [19] A. Gopinath, G. Divyapriya, V. Srivastava, A. Laiju, P. Nidheesh, and M. S. Kumar, (2021) “Conversion of sewage sludge into biochar: A potential resource in water and wastewater treatment" Environmental Research 194: 110656.
  20. [20] Y. Cai, C. Li, D. Wu, W. Wang, F. Tan, X. Wang, P. K. Wong, and X. Qiao, (2017) “Highly active MgO nanoparticles for simultaneous bacterial inactivation and heavy metal removal from aqueous solution" Chemical Engineering Journal 312: 158–166.
  21. [21] P. K. Stoimenov, R. L. Klinger, G. L. Marchin, and K. J. Klabunde, (2002) “Metal oxide nanoparticles as bactericidal agents" Langmuir 18(17): 6679–6686.
  22. [22] A. A. Aryee, F. M. Mpatani, R. Han, X. Shi, and L. Qu, (2021) “A review on adsorbents for the remediation of wastewater: Antibacterial and adsorption study" Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 9(6): 106907.
  23. [23] M. Kumari and S. Gupta, (2022) “Occurrence and exposure to trihalomethanes in drinking water: a systematic review and meta-analysis" Exposure and Health 14(4): 915–939.
  24. [24] J. Qin, Z. Zhu, Z. Chen, X. Wang, Y. Zhang, and H. Chen, (2023) “Synthesis, characterization and application of dewatered municipal sludge-based creamsite and its phosphorus adsorption characteristics" Journal of Cleaner Production 391: 136216.
  25. [25] C. Wan, S. Ding, C. Zhang, X. Tan, W. Zou, X. Liu, and X. Yang, (2017) “Simultaneous recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from sludge fermentation liquid by zeolite adsorption: Mechanism and application" Separation and Purification Technology 180: 1–12.
  26. [26] E. P. Kuncoro, T. Soedarti, T. W. C. Putranto, H. Darmokoesoemo, N. R. Abadi, and H. S. Kusuma, (2018) “Characterization of a mixture of algae wastebentonite used as adsorbent for the removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solution" Data in brief 16: 908–913.
  27. [27] E. P. Kuncoro, D. R. M. Isnadina, H. Darmokoesoemo, F. Dzembarahmatiny, and H. S. Kusuma, (2018) “Characterization and isotherm data for adsorption of Cd2+ from aqueous solution by adsorbent from mixture of bagasse-bentonite" Data in brief 16: 354–360.
  28. [28] Y. A. Neolaka, A. A. Riwu, U. O. Aigbe, K. E. Ukhurebor, R. B. Onyancha, H. Darmokoesoemo, and H. S. Kusuma, (2022) “Potential of activated carbon from various sources as a low-cost adsorbent to remove heavy metals and synthetic dyes" Results in Chemistry: 100711.
  29. [29] X. Liu, S. Yang, S. Liu, and Y. Yang, (2021) “Performance and mechanism of phosphorus removal by slag ceramsite filler" Process Safety and Environmental Protection 148: 858–866.
  30. [30] S. Kang, J.-H. Choi, J.-G. Park, and K. Baek, (2019) “Pellet adsorbent derived from molasses and dewatered alum sludge for arsenic removal" Journal of CO2 Utilization 33: 31–36.
  31. [31] C. Liang, S. Lin, and G. Liu, (2021) “Study on the preparation of biochar ceramsite based on sewage sludge and the characterization of its properties" Applied Sciences 11(12): 5522.
  32. [32] Q. Shao, Y. Zhang, Z. Liu, L. Long, Z. Liu, Y. Chen, X.-M. Hu, M. Lu, and L.-Z. Huang, (2022) “Phosphorus and nitrogen recovery from wastewater by ceramsite: Adsorption mechanism, plant cultivation and sustainability analysis" Science of the Total Environment 805: 150288.
  33. [33] A. W. W. A. (APHA) and W. E. F. (WEF). Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater. United Book Press Inc, 2012.
  34. [34] Y. A. Neolaka, Y. Lawa, J. N. Naat, A. A. Riwu, M. Iqbal, H. Darmokoesoemo, and H. S. Kusuma, (2020) “The adsorption of Cr (VI) from water samples using graphene oxide-magnetic (GO-Fe3O4) synthesized from natural cellulose-based graphite (kusambi wood or Schleichera oleosa): Study of kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics" Journal of Materials Research and Technology 9(3): 6544–6556.
  35. [35] S. Dai, Q. Wen, F. Huang, Y. Bao, X. Xi, Z. Liao, J. Shi, C. Ou, and J. Qin, (2022) “Preparation and application of MgO-loaded tobermorite to simultaneously remove nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater" Chemical Engineering Journal 446: 136809.
  36. [36] X. Liu, Y. Wang, R. L. Smith, J. Fu, and X. Qi, (2021) “High-capacity structured MgO-Co adsorbent for removal of phosphorus from aqueous solutions" Chemical Engineering Journal 426: 131381.
  37. [37] Y. Fang, A. Ali, Y. Gao, P. Zhao, R. Li, X. Li, J. Liu, Y. Luo, Y. Peng, H. Wang, et al., (2022) “Preparation and characterization of MgO hybrid biochar and its mechanism for high efficient recovery of phosphorus from aqueous media" Biochar 4(1): 40.
  38. [38] F. Xie, F. Wu, G. Liu, Y. Mu, C. Feng, H. Wang, and J. P. Giesy, (2014) “Removal of phosphate from eutrophic lakes through adsorption by in situ formation of magnesium hydroxide from diatomite" Environmental Science & Technology 48(1): 582–590.
  39. [39] C. Barca, D. Meyer, M. Liira, P. Drissen, Y. Comeau, Y. Andrès, and F. Chazarenc, (2014) “Steel slag filters to upgrade phosphorus removal in small wastewater treatment plants: removal mechanisms and performance" Ecological engineering 68: 214–222.
  40. [40] I. Blanco, P. Molle, L. E. S. de Miera, and G. Ansola, (2016) “Basic oxygen furnace steel slag aggregates for phosphorus treatment. Evaluation of its potential use as a substrate in constructed wetlands" Water research 89: 355–365.
  41. [41] T. Park, V. Ampunan, S. Maeng, and E. Chung, (2017) “Application of steel slag coated with sodium hydroxide to enhance precipitation-coagulation for phosphorus removal" Chemosphere 167: 91–97.
  42. [42] J. Yu, W. Liang, L. Wang, F. Li, Y. Zou, and H. Wang, (2015) “Phosphate removal from domestic wastewater using thermally modified steel slag" Journal of Environmental Sciences 31: 81–88.
  43. [43] F. C. P. Masim, C.-H. Tsai, Y.-F. Lin, M.-L. Fu, M. Liu, F. Kang, and Y.-F. Wang, (2019) “Synergistic effect of PANI–ZrO2 composite as antibacterial, anti-corrosion, and phosphate adsorbent material: synthesis, characterization and applications" Environmental technology 40(2): 226–238.
  44. [44] L.-S. Lin, C.-G. Niu, N. Tang, C. Liang, X.-X. Lv, H. Guo, L. Zhang, Y.-Y. Yang, and H.-Y. Liu, (2020) “Lanthanum hydroxides modified poly (epichlorohydrin)- ethylenediamine composites for highly efficient phosphate removal and bacteria disinfection" Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 588: 124344.
  45. [45] C. T. Vu and T. Wu, (2020) “Magnetic porous NiLaLayered double oxides (LDOs) with improved phosphate adsorption and antibacterial activity for treatment of secondary effluent" Water Research 175: 115679.
  46. [46] H. Wang, J. Xu, Y. Liu, and L. Sheng, (2021) “Preparation of ceramsite from municipal sludge and its application in water treatment: A review" Journal of environmental management 287: 112374.
  47. [47] U. Baig, M. Faizan, and M. Sajid, (2021) “Effective removal of hazardous pollutants from water and deactivation of water-borne pathogens using multifunctional synthetic adsorbent materials: a review" Journal of Cleaner Production 302: 126735.
  48. [48] B. Michen, J. Fritsch, C. Aneziris, and T. Graule, (2013) “Improved virus removal in ceramic depth filters modified with MgO" Environmental science & technology 47(3): 1526–1533.
  49. [49] M. bibinitperiod Eddy, M. Abu-Orf, G. Bowden, F. L. Burton, W. Pfrang, H. D. Stensel, G. Tchobanoglous, R. Tsuchihashi, and A. (Firm). Wastewater engineering: treatment and resource recovery. McGraw Hill Education, 2014.
  50. [50] J. B. Quispe, L. Campos, O. Mašek, and A. Bogush, (2022) “Use of biochar-based column filtration systems for greywater treatment: A systematic literature review" Journal of Water Process Engineering 48: 102908.
  51. [51] S. Kataki, H. West, M. Clarke, and D. C. Baruah, (2016) “Phosphorus recovery as struvite from farm, municipal and industrial waste: Feedstock suitability, methods and pre-treatments" Waste Management 49: 437–454.
  52. [52] J.-Y. Lin, D. Li, M. Kim, I. Lee, H. Kim, and C.-P. Huang, (2021) “Process optimization for the synthesis of ceramsites in terms of mechanical strength and phosphate adsorption capacity" Chemosphere 278: 130239.
  53. [53] M. Shirazinezhad, M. Faghihinezhad, M. Baghdadi, and M. Ghanbari, (2021) “Phosphate removal from municipal effluent by a porous MgO-expanded graphite composite as a novel adsorbent: Evaluation of seawater as a natural source of magnesium ions" Journal of Water Process Engineering 43: 102232.
  54. [54] G. Selvaraju and N. K. A. Bakar, (2017) “Production of a new industrially viable green-activated carbon from Artocarpus integer fruit processing waste and evaluation of its chemical, morphological and adsorption properties" Journal of cleaner production 141: 989–999.
  55. [55] S. Pap, C. Kirk, B. Bremner, M. T. Sekulic, L. Shearer, S. W. Gibb, and M. A. Taggart, (2020) “Low-cost chitosan-calcite adsorbent development for potential phosphate removal and recovery from wastewater effluent" Water research 173: 115573.
  56. [56] A. S. Mahmoud, M. K. Mostafa, and M. Nasr, (2019) “Regression model, artificial intelligence, and cost estimation for phosphate adsorption using encapsulated nanoscale zero-valent iron" Separation Science and Technology 54(1): 13–26.
  57. [57] R. Li, J. J. Wang, B. Zhou, M. K. Awasthi, A. Ali, Z. Zhang, A. H. Lahori, and A. Mahar, (2016) “Recovery of phosphate from aqueous solution by magnesium oxide decorated magnetic biochar and its potential as phosphatebased fertilizer substitute" Bioresource technology 215: 209–214.
  58. [58] E. P. Kuncoro, D. R. M. Isnadina, H. Darmokoesoemo, O. R. Fauziah, and H. S. Kusuma, (2018) “Characterization, kinetic, and isotherm data for adsorption of Pb2+ from aqueous solution by adsorbent from mixture of bagasse-bentonite" Data in brief 16: 622–629.
  59. [59] L. L. Cabral, I. C. Pereira, F. Perretto, A. Nagalli, R. C. P. Rizzo-Domingues, F. H. Passig, and K. Q. de Carvalho, (2021) “Adsorption and desorption of phosphate onto chemically and thermochemically pre-activated red ceramic waste: Characteristics, batch studies, and mechanisms" Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 9(6): 106695.