[Study on phosphate removal and recovery by activated alumina]

Activated alumina was studied for removing phosphate from water, and the recovery of adsorbed phosphate on activated aluminum oxide was also tested. Phosphate solution was prepared using distilled water, tap water and Luoshijiang River water, respectively. All the phosphate adsorption tests using activated alumina were proved to be well fitted with Langmuir isotherm and the respective maximum adsorption amount were 20.88, 32.15 and 29.85 mg x g(-1), respectively. The presence of electrolyte in water could be a positive factor for phosphate removal. As the pH value of phosphate solution became lower the Zeta potential of activated alumina increased, which could enhance the phosphate removal efficiency of activated alumina. The recovery tests indicated that NaOH (0.1 mol x L(-1)) solution could almost completely extract the phosphate adsorbed by activated alumina.