Removal of Phosphates in Aqueous Solution by Adsorption on Calcium Oxide

The aim of this work is the removal of phosphates from an aqueous solution by adsorption on a new, inexpensive adsorbent, calcium oxide. We have also shown interest in the choice of removal method, which is adsorption. The kinetic study of the removal of phosphate ions by adsorption on calcium oxide allowed us to calculate the value of adsorption capacity as a function of the parameters affecting adsorption: Amount of adsorbent, initial concentration of phosphate ion solution, pH of the mixture and temperature. The study of adsorption isotherms showed that the Freundlich model is the most appropriate for the phenomenon of phosphate ion adsorption. Modeling of the kinetic data by the pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order equations shows that the adsorption process is best described by the second order equation. Thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy ΔH°, entropy ΔS° and free enthalpy ΔG° were also evaluated to determine the nature of adsorption. The results show that the adsorption process is a spontaneous and endothermic physisorption.