Virtual Booth

The presence of phosphorus in water bodies is a primary environmental concern due to its role in eutrophication, leading to algal blooms and subsequent water quality degradation. Traditional methods for phosphorus removal are often costly and environmentally taxing. This study uses synthetic water to explore using raw hard clam shells as an efficient and sustainable adsorbent for phosphorus removal in an up-flow column reactor. This study involves six up-flow column reactors with different heights of adsorbent (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8cm) and optimizing with constant flow rate through synthetic water to simulate contaminated water. The data obtained indicate that raw hard clam shells exhibit a significant capacity for phosphorus adsorption, with maximum adsorption capacity determined using the Bed depth service time, Modified Mass Transfer, and Thomas models to understand the rate-controlling mechanisms in the up-flow column reactor. The physical-chemical characteristics of the morphological changes are explored before and after the adsorption process occurs. Operational parameter studies show that optimal phosphorus removal is achieved at specific flow rates and contact times, highlighting the importance of reactor design and operational conditions in maximizing adsorption efficiency. This study demonstrates that raw hard clam shells are an effective and sustainable adsorbent for phosphorus removal from synthetic water in an up-flow column reactor.