Removal of phosphorus ions from aqueous solutions using manganese-oxide-coated sand and brick

A simple method to produce birnessite‐coated quartz sand

“…), and the fraction of sorbed birnessite increased to 3.7% of the initially precipitated birnessite. The Mn contents of BCS produced in this study (0.14–1.29 mg Mn g −1 ) were similar to those analyzed in previous studies, in which different methods to synthesize Mn oxides and to coat sand‐sized grains with these oxides have been applied: 0.4 ( Hu et al, ), 0.64–4.4 (11 variants; Merkle et al, ), 1.5 ( Boujelben et al, ), 5.46 mg Mn g −1 ( Han et al., ).…”

“…First, following Scheidegger et al (), a weak pH dependency of the attachment of metal oxides to quartz was the consequence of the electrostatic attraction of the negatively charged quartz surface [point of zero charge (pzc) approx. at moderately acidic to alkaline pH and the variably positively charged metal‐oxide surface. The pzc of a birnessite synthesized according to Händel et al () has been found to be 7.3 ( Matern and Mansfeldt , ), which would explain the strong increase of the Mn content from pH 5 to pH 7.…”

“…Given their reactivity and commonly large specific surface area (> 200 m 2 g −1 ; Händel et al, ), Mn oxides, including birnessite (δ‐MnO 2 ), have been recommended for contaminant removal in water treatment ( e.g ., Driehaus et al, ; Hu et al, ). As birnessite particles are usually very small (< 100 nm; Händel et al, ), sand‐sized grains have been coated with birnessite or other Mn oxides prior to use in water treatment ( e.g ., Merkle et al, ; Ahammed and Meera , ; Boujelben et al, ; Huang et al, ). Here, larger flow velocities are demanded than those attainable in a porous medium consisting exclusively of small Mn‐oxide particles/aggregates.…”

“…Here, larger flow velocities are demanded than those attainable in a porous medium consisting exclusively of small Mn‐oxide particles/aggregates. The preparation of both, Mn oxides and Mn‐oxide coated sand‐sized materials, often included the use of strong acids and bases at elevated temperature ( e.g ., McKenzie , ; Tsadilas et al, ; Han et al, ; Boujelben et al, ). Thus, these procedures involved harmful chemicals and increased consumption of energy, which complicates the easy‐to‐use application of these coated materials.…”

Sorption of Phosphorus, Nickel, and Lead from Aqueous Solution Using Manganese Oxide-Coated Materials

“…Recent studies have shown that some filtration materials such as sand and burned clay coated with oxides (oxyhydroxides) of iron, aluminum, or manganese act as good and inexpensive sorbents [18][19][20][21].…”