Simultaneous Removal of Nitrate and Phosphate Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using Fume Dust from Electric Arc Furnace Industrial Waste

Abstract

The removal of nitrate and phosphate ions from wastewater has a major concern nowadays. It is necessary to remove nitrate and phosphate ions from wastewater. Adsorption becomes a promising method for phosphate and nitrate ions removal from wastewater because of their availability, low cost, stability and high adsorption capacity. Fume Dust from an Electric Arc Furnace is an industrial waste produced from El-Masryeen Steel factory which is used as an adsorbent for simultaneous removal of nitrate and phosphate ions from an aqueous solution. Surface characterization is performed for the Fume Dust from an Electric Arc Furnace waste before and after adsorption process to ensure nitrate and phosphate ions adsorption and to predict the adsorption mechanisms for each of them. The effects of changing pH, initial nitrate ion concentration, initial phosphate ion concentration and adsorbent dose on the adsorption process efficiency are studied. Response-Surface Methodology-Central Composite Design statistical method is performed to reach the best conditions of the nitrate and phosphate ions removal percentages at neutral pH using Design Expert Software. The maximum nitrate and phosphate ions removal percentages (52.74 % and 92.38 %) are achieved using Fume Dust from an Electric Arc Furnace waste under these conditions; pH ~ 7, initial nitrate ion concentration = 6 mg/L, initial phosphate ion concentration = 1 mg/L, adsorbent dose = 6.5 g/L and contact time = 90 min.