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The study aims to develop and optimize a novel flocculant, PSFAZ, for effective phosphorus removal from wastewater.

May 16, 2026Materials0 citationsOpen Access

Preparation of a Novel Zirconium-Loaded Flocculant for Efficient Removal of Phosphorus

XXXueqing XiKunming University of Science and Technology XLXiang LiKunming University of Science and Technology SHSufang HeKunming University of Science and Technology

Key Points

The study aims to develop and optimize a novel flocculant, PSFAZ, for effective phosphorus removal from wastewater.
PSFAZ was prepared using co-polymerization.
Single-factor experiments optimized Zr/Fe molar ratio, pH, sedimentation time, and dosage.
Performance was evaluated under real wastewater treatment conditions.
PSFAZ achieved a 99.3% phosphorus removal efficiency at a Zr/Fe ratio of 0.6/1, pH 6, 25 mL/L dosage, sedimentation time of 2 h.
In real wastewater treatment, PSFAZ exhibited 99.6% phosphorus removal efficiency with negligible metal leaching.
Charge neutralization, ligand exchange, bridging effect, and complexation are key mechanisms in phosphorus removal.

Abstract

Polysilicate-ferric-aluminum-zirconium (PSFAZ) was prepared using co-polymerization for the treatment of phosphorus wastewater. The preparation conditions of PSFAZ were optimized through a series of single-factor experiments, including Zr/Fe molar ratio, pH, sedimentation time, and dosage. The results demonstrated that PSFAZ exhibited an excellent phosphorus removal performance with 99.3% removal efficiency under the conditions of Zr/Fe ratio of 0.6/1, pH of 6, dosage of 25 mL/L and sedimentation time of 2 h. In real wastewater treatment, PSFAZ exhibited an exceptional phosphorus removal efficiency of 99.6%, accompanied by negligible metal leaching. The characterization results reveal that charge neutralization, ligand exchange, bridging effect and complexation reactions between metal ions and phosphorus play a dominant role in phosphorus removal. This study provides valuable insights into the practical application of novel inorganic composite flocculants for phosphorus wastewater treatment and reuse.

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