Study of phosphate removal from aqueous solution by zinc oxide

Zinc oxide (ZnO) was synthesized and used to investigate the mechanism of phosphate removal from aqueous solution. ZnO particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy before and after adsorption. Batch experiments were carried out to investigate the kinetics, isotherms, effects of initial pH and co-existing anions. The adsorption process was rapid and equilibrium was almost reached within 150 min. The adsorption kinetics were described well by a pseudo-second-order equation, and the maximum phosphate adsorption capacity was 163.4 mg/g at 298 K and pH ∼6.2±0.1. Thermodynamic analysis indicated the phosphate adsorption onto ZnO was endothermic and spontaneous. The point of zero charge of ZnO was around 8.4 according to the pH-drift method. Phosphate adsorption capacity reduced with the increasing initial solution pH values. The ligand exchange and Lewis acid-base interaction dominated the adsorption process in the lower and the higher pH range, respectively. Nitrate, sulfate and chloride ions had a negligible effect on phosphate removal, while carbonate displayed significant inhibition behavior.