Phosphate Removal from Digested Sludge Supernatant Using Modified Fly Ash
The removal of phosphate in digested sludge supernatant by modified coal fly ash was investigated in this study. Modification of the fly ash by the addition of sulfuric acid could significantly enhance its immobilization ability. The experimental results also showed that adsorption of phosphate by the modified fly ash was rapid with the removal percentage of phosphate reaching an equilibrium of 98.62% in less than 5 minutes. The optimum pH for phosphate removal was 9 and the removal percentage increased with increasing adsorbent dosage. The effect of temperature on phosphate removal efficiency was not significant from 20 to 40 °C. X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope analyses showed that phosphate formed an amorphous precipitate with water‐soluble calcium, aluminum, and iron ions in the modified fly ash.
Fly ash characterization by SEM–EDS
A study conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory characterized twelve Class F fly ash samples from nine PC power plants in PA, WV, MD and TN, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Both the surface and internal structure of fly ash particles were analyzed. All of the fly ash samples were comprised mainly of amorphous alumino-silicate spheres and a smaller amount of iron-rich spheres. The majority of the iron-rich spheres had two components: iron oxide and amorphous alumino-silicate. Both materials were apparent on the particle surface, and cross-sections clearly showed that the iron oxide and alumino-silicate were mixed throughout the fly ash particles. Calcium, the fourth most abundant element in the fly ash, was associated with oxygen, sulfur or phosphorous, not with silicon or aluminum. The calcium-rich material was distinct in both elemental composition and texture from the amorphous alumino-silicate spheres. The elemental concentrations, as determined by EDS, were consistent with ICP-OES and X-ray diffraction data.
Vegetation of waste disposal areas at a coal-fired power plant in Kansas. [Agropyron elongatum, Festuca arundinacea, Melilotus officinalis, Echinochloa crusgalli, Populus deltoides, Juniperus virginiana]
The bottom ash was not capable of supporting vegetative growth, even with amendment. Tall wheatgrass [Agropyron elongatum, (Host) Beauv.], tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.], yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis Lam.), and Japanese millet [Echinochloa crusgalli (L.), Beauv.] grew well on scrubber sludge, as did eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Marsh.) and eastern red cedar trees (Juniperus virginiana L.)