Study of Preparation of Polyaluminum Ferric Sulfate Flocculant from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Fly Ash
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 12
Abstract
In this investigation, polyaluminum sulfate (PAFS), an inorganic flocculant, was synthesized using municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash. The morphology and structure of PAFS were characterized using x-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A single-factor flocculation experiment explored the impact of polymerization duration, temperature, stirring speed, and pH on the preparation of PAFS. Optimal removal of kaolin turbidity was achieved with a polymerization time of 60 min, a stirring speed of 100 rpm, a temperature of 40°C, and a pH of 10, resulting in a maximum turbidity removal rate of 32.75%. To enhance the turbidity reduction capability of PAFS, upgraded experiments were conducted using as an additive. These experiments demonstrated that the modified flocculant significantly improved turbidity removal, achieving 74.95% under consistent conditions with a pH of 3.5 and an addition of 1 g, corresponding to a ratio to fly ash. The characterization of the flocculant revealed that PAFS is a composite material containing hydroxyl groups, iron ions, and chloride ions, forming a network structure of interconnected molecular chains with a dense configuration. The adsorption bridging by high-molecular-weight iron sulfate polymers with branch-like structures plays a critical role in turbidity elimination. This study presents a novel method for the utilization of MSWI fly ash in environmental management.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Analysis and Testing Center of Yunnan Minzu University for providing instrumental support.
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 12 • December 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 26, 2024
Accepted: Jul 18, 2024
Published online: Oct 10, 2024
Published in print: Dec 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Mar 10, 2025
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