Application of magnetite microparticles for phosphorus adsorption in eutrophic water samples
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47187/perf.v1i35.372Keywords:
Adsorption, Eutrophication, Phosphorus, Magnetite, MicroparticlesAbstract
Eutrophication, caused by excess nutrients, causes an overflow of algae and other plants that deteriorate water quality. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of magnetic iron microparticles in phosphorus adsorption in eutrophic waters. To this end, magnetite microparticles were synthesized by chemical coprecipitation and characterized using infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Ten, 20, and 40 mL of microparticle suspension were applied to water samples for 5- and 10-minutes using sonication. The parameters analyzed before and after treatment were phosphorus, chemical oxygen demand, turbidity, and pH. The results showed that treatment with 40 mL of microparticles and 10 minutes of sonication removed 94.1% of the phosphorus. The number of suspended microparticles and the interaction time significantly influenced the percentage of phosphorus removal (p=0.000 and p=0.006). Furthermore, the pH and turbidity of the analyzed water samples were reduced. The data demonstrate the potential of magnetite microparticles for phosphorus adsorption, making them a viable, effective, and selective alternative.
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