Removal of bacteriophage MS2 from aqueous solution using Mg-Fe layered double hydroxides

The objective of this study was to investigate the removal of bacteriophage MS2 from aqueous solution using Mg-Fe layered double hydroxides (LDHs). Batch experiments were performed under various experimental conditions to examine bacteriophage removal with LDHs. The bacteriophage was enumerated by the plaque assay method. Results showed that among the Mg-Fe LDHs calcined at different temperatures (105, 300, 500, 700 ° C), Mg-Fe-300 LDH had the highest removal capacity at (2.34 ± 0.01) × 10(8) pfu/g with a removal percent of 99.44 ± 0.48 %. This result could be attributed to the fact that calcination could alter chemical compositions and physical properties of Mg-Fe LDHs. Kinetic experiments indicated that the removal of MS2 by Mg-Fe-300 LDH was a fast process, reaching equilibrium within 60 min. Results also showed that the effect of solution pH on MS2 removal by Mg-Fe-300 LDH was minimal at pH 4.0-9.0. The influence of anions (NO(3)(-), SO(4)(2-), CO(3)(2-), HPO(4(2-); concentrations 1-100 mg/L) on the removal of bacteriophage was important. SO(4)(2-), CO(3)(2-), and HPO(4)(2-) influenced removal due to their competition with bacteriophage at the sorption sites, while the effect of NO(3)(-) was negligible. Generally, the impact of the anions was in the order of NO(3)(-) < SO(4)(2-) < CO(3) (2-) < HPO(4)(4) (2-). This study improves our knowledge of potential applications of LDHs as adsorbents for virus removal in water treatment.