Assessing of phosphorus removal by polymeric anion exchangers Original Research Article

Assessing of phosphorous removal by the polymeric anion exchange resins was studied in this paper, aiming at the determination of effects of pH, competing ions, concentration and flow rates. Batch study was carried out of both weak-base and strong-base resins to determine the selectivity to phosphorus in presence of Cl–, NO3– and SO42–. Batch studies clarified that weak-base resin preferred phosphorus to competing anions and equilibrium adsorption capacity was from 4.95 to 1.39 mmol/g. Strong-base resin was strongly affected by competing anions and equilibrium adsorption capacity as low as 0.39 mmol/g. Column studies also performed of fixed-bed experiments using both resins packed column. The breakthrough capacities of weak-base resins were not so strongly affected by flow rates from 50 to 150 h− 1 and the breakthrough capacities were from 0.41 to 0.20 mmol/g indicating high kinetic performances. Trace level of phosphorus was removed by weak-base resins from feed containing of 0.026 mM phosphorus at high flow rate of 350 h− 1. Adsorbed phosphorus was quantitatively desorbed with 1 M HCl acid and regenerated into hydrochloride form simultaneously for next adsorption operation. Therefore, weak-base resin is to be an effective means to treat wastewater to prevent eutrophication in the receiving water bodies.