Novel Composite Materials for Lake Restoration: A New Approach Impacting on Ecology and Circular Economy

Miltiadis Zamparas, Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos, Marios Drosos, Vasilis C. Kapsalis and Ioannis K. Kalavrouziotis
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Miltiadis Zamparas: School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Parodos Aristotelous 18, 26335 Patras, Greece
Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos: Electric Power Division, Photometry Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece
Marios Drosos: Institute of Resource, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture (IREEA), Faculty of Biology and Environment, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang Road, Nanjing 210095, China
Vasilis C. Kapsalis: School of Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Management and Operations Research Sector, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Heroon Polytechniou Street, 15780 Athens, Greece
Ioannis K. Kalavrouziotis: School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Parodos Aristotelous 18, 26335 Patras, Greece

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to promote a new way of application composite materials to restore eutrophic waters. A new sustainable way of application is based on the “teabag” method, in which materials were placed in water-permeable bags and immersed in the water column in order to sorb phosphate—one of the main contributory element for the eutrophication problem. Particularly, the two composites materials of Phoslock™ (lanthanum-modified bentonite, LMB) and Bephos™ (Fe-modified bentonite, f-MB) were tested and bench-scale batch experiments were employed to investigate their sorption efficiency in the forms of slurry and teabag. The adsorption kinetics and the relevant adsorption isotherms were deployed, while the effect of the materials on turbidity and their aging were also investigated. Experimental results showed that Phoslock™ and Bephos™ (as teabag), being applied at initial concentration range: 0.05–5 mg/L, they sustained a maximum adsorption capacity of 7.80 mg/g and 25.1 mg/g, respectively, which are considered sufficient rates for P concentrations reported at natural aquatic ecosystems. At the same time this new method did not cause turbidity in the water column, since the material was not released into the water, thus, preventing potential harmful consequences for the living organisms. Moreover, the “teabag” method prevents the material to cover the lake bottom, avoiding the phenomenon of smothering of benthos. Βy teabag method, the materials can be collected for further applicability as soil improver or crops fertilizer. Finally, it was argued that the possibility to recycle LMB and f-MB materials for agricultural use is of paramount importance, sustaining also positive impacts on sustainable ecology and on the routes of circular economy (CE).

Keywords: LMB; f-MB; eutrophication; lake restoration; teabag method; natural aquatic ecosystems; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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