Adsorption Capacity for Phosphorus Comparison among Activated Alumina, Silica Sand and Anthracite Coal

Experimental researches on adsorptive capacity of activated alumina, silica sand and anthracite coal for phosphorus were conducted. Results showed that performances of three filter media were all in line with Langmuir isotherm, and activated alumina adsorptive performance was much better than silica sand and anthracite coal for phosphorus removal. The adsorptive capacity of activated alumina, silica sand and anthracite coal for phosphorus was 3333μg/g, 49μg/g and 100μg/g respectively. Activated alumina displayed adsorptive function well for phosphorus, because its inner porosity, specific surface area and surface isoelectric pH value were all higher than those of other two filter media. While activated alumina was used as filter material in water treatment process, phosphorus would be removed strongly because of adsorptive characteristic of activated alumina.