Adsorption Removal of Phosphorus from Aqueous Solution by Steel Slag Columns

Removal of phosphorus from aqueous solution by steel slag column and the effects of the addition of boiler slag, furnace ash and quartz sand were investigated. After the adsorption treatment by the steel slag column, the residual phosphorus concentration was less than 0.5 mg/L. The adsorption performance of the steel slag column could be enhanced by the addition of quartz sand. The columns that were filled with the mixture of steel slag and quartz sand at a volume ratio of 7;3 or with the mixture of steel slag and furnace ash at a volume ratio of 7:3 indicated the longest run-life and breakthrough time of 26 or 24 days, respectively. Furthermore, the mixing of boiler slag, furnace ash or quartz sand into the steel slag column could effectively mitigate the clogging and hardening risks.