Grant: Engage Grants Program

Nutrients (e.g. phosphorous) from wastewater and agricultural runoff cause lake eutrophication leading to algal blooms that result in negative effects on aquatic life and pose risks to people and animals. The main objective of this research is to develop an inexpensive, yet effective, zeolite-based adsorbent to uptake phosphate from eutrophic water. In order to enhance natural zeolite capacity for phosphate removal, chemical modification of the raw zeolite is required. Zeolite-based anion adsorbents can be developed using different methods such as modification with cationic surfactant, metallic cations and nanoparticles. In this project, modification of zeolite with inorganic species such as magnesium and ammonium salts will be considered to develop a multifunctional adsorbent for phosphate removal. An intensified leaching test will be conducted on the nutrient laden adsorbents to study the fate of adsorbed nutrients under long-term exposure to environmental elements. This is a much-needed study that, to the best of our knowledge, has not been reported by any other research team. Mathematical modeling of adsorption/desorption reactions will be employed to evaluate the release profile under different environmental conditions.The next step is to evaluate the actual cost for the zeolite modification process in order to recommend a simplified manufacturing process. This includes a comparative analysis with other commercially available processes.