Phosphorus Control and Recovery in Anthropogenic Wetlands Using Their Green Waste—Validation of an Adsorbent Mixture Model

Juan A. González, Jesús Mengual () and Antonio Eduardo Palomares
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Juan A. González: Institut Universitari d’Investigaciò d’Enginyeria de l’Aigua i Medi Ambient, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Jesús Mengual: Instituto de Tecnología Química, Universitat Politècnica de València—Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avenida de los Naranjos s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Antonio Eduardo Palomares: Instituto de Tecnología Química, Universitat Politècnica de València—Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avenida de los Naranjos s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-23

Abstract: The deterioration of freshwater ecosystems in anthropogenic wetlands is intensified due to phosphorus inputs from fertilizers applied in agricultural areas. In addition, managing the excess green waste generated in these ecosystems increases the complexity of the problem. To move towards a sustainable society based on the circular economy, the use of controlled combustion of green waste to obtain bioenergy—followed by the application of the resulting ash for phosphorus removal from freshwater bodies via adsorption processes—should be considered. Furthermore, those ashes could be used as natural fertilizers and incorporated into the cultivated fields. This paper presents a deep study of the adsorption of phosphorus ions using ashes from the main green waste produced in wetlands. Various experiments were conducted to determine the effects of different variables in the removal process. A double kinetic model was necessary to explain the presence of two different removal processes. The Langmuir model described the equilibrium isotherm data of both adsorbents through an endothermic process. Acidic pH in the initial solutions was preferred because it promotes phosphorus removal by calcium dissolution. The alkalinity did not have a substantial effect on the adsorbent capacity. Calcium was the element that had a more significant influence on the overall process. Finally, a removal study using blended materials was performed. A combined model was proposed and validated based on the original isotherm models for the pure materials.

Keywords: phosphorus removal; adsorption; green waste ashes; adsorbent blend; double kinetic model; isotherm mixture model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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