Adsorption behaviors and removal efficiencies of different phosphorus species on sewage sludge-based biochar (SBB) were investigated, with powder activated carbon (PAC) as a comparison. The adsorption efficiencies of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium glycerol-phosphate on SBB are 81.91%-92.86%, 66.02%-90.66% and 25.48%-38.94%, when the initial pH values of phosphate solutions are 3-10, 4-10 and 3-10, respectively. The maximal adsorption capacities of phosphates on SBB are 2.1-5.3 times those of PAC. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicates that ligand-exchange mechanism and Lewis acid-base interactions occur between hydrolysates of surface-Fe 2+ /surface-Fe 3+ and phosphates, and the precipitates of phosphates accumulate on the surface of SBB and separate from the aqueous solution. These results demonstrate that SBB is an effective adsorbent for phosphorus removal and recovery in wastewater, and it also has the potential to reduce phosphorus leaching loss in the soil when applied in soil amendment.
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