In adsorption system, the powder
form of adsorbents creates a technological
bottleneck, such as a pressure drop during filtration, which limits
their field applications. To overcome this drawback, a hybrid bead
form of magnetic biopolymeric clay composites, namely, magnetic-chitosan-assisted
hydrotalcite (MCSHT) and magnetic-alginate-assisted hydrotalcite (MAlgHT)
composite beads, was prepared and utilized for phosphate (PO4
3–) adsorption from water. The prepared biopolymeric
composite beads overcame the problem of eutrophication (algae growth), which occurred
due to a very high content of PO4
3– in
drinking water. The adsorbent properties were investigated in detail
using X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis,
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis,
inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, and scanning
electron microscopy. The experimental data for PO4
3– adsorption onto MCSHT and MAlgHT composite beads
were compared with Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich, and Langmuir
isotherm models. The order of PO4
3– adsorption
was explained by a kinetic study. Ion-exchange, complexation, and
electrostatic adsorption mechanism were developed for PO4
3– adsorption. The prepared MCSHT and MAlgHT composite
beads could be reused and possessed excellent PO4
3– removal efficiency up to four regeneration cycles. The field study
result suggested that the prepared MCSHT and MAlgHT composite beads
could efficiently remove PO4
3– from contaminated
water collected from a nearby endemic village.