Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Development of a Porous Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer for Ammonium Removal in Wastewater Treatments

Version 1 : Received: 20 November 2023 / Approved: 21 November 2023 / Online: 21 November 2023 (07:34:27 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Otero, M.; Freire, L.; Gómez-Cuervo, S.; Ávila, C. Ammonium Removal in Wastewater Treatments by Adsorbent Geopolymer Material with Granite Wastes: Full-Scale Validation. Clean Technol. 2024, 6, 339-364. Otero, M.; Freire, L.; Gómez-Cuervo, S.; Ávila, C. Ammonium Removal in Wastewater Treatments by Adsorbent Geopolymer Material with Granite Wastes: Full-Scale Validation. Clean Technol. 2024, 6, 339-364.

Abstract

Elevated ammonium (NH4+) concentrations in untreated waterways contribute to eutrophication and dissolved oxygen depletion, which cause severe degradation of water quality. Ion exchange processes are a robust, low operational cost and efficient option for ammonium removal with zeolites being the most widely used. Geopolymers are a sustainable and low-cost option compared to zeolites that follows the same ion exchange technology. In the present study, a metakaolin-based porous geopolymer was synthetized, characterised and validated as adsorbent material. The laboratory batch tests showed a maximum adsorption capacity (Qm) of 18.35 mg/g being 27% higher than reference zeolites. Kinetics followed the Weber-Morris rate equation being the intraparticle diffusion the limiting process and continuous experiments indicated a maximum removal of 97% in the first hours. The material was validated in a wastewater treatment pilot plant where values in pH, electrical conductivity and NH4+ concentration were monitored. The obtained data indicated that the material achieved up to 80% NH4+ removal which is similar to traditional zeolites. The results demonstrate that this sustainable, low-cost and easy-to-install metakaolin-based geopolymer can be used effectively for NH4+ treatment.

Keywords

geopolymer; metakaolin; adsorption; wastewater treatments; NH4+ removal

Subject

Chemistry and Materials Science, Chemical Engineering

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