Feasibility study of nitrate surface absorption by mineral pumice from Nitrate solution on a laboratory scale

Subject Areas : Unconventional water extraction systems

Farzad Bakhshandegan Moghaddam ¹ , Parisa Hoseini ²

1 - Department of Water Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Zanjan University, Zanjan, Iran.
2 - Department of water engineering, Agriculture faculty, Zanjan university, Zanjan, Iran

Received: 2023-11-03 Accepted : 2024-01-10 Published : 2024-03-10

Keywords: Surface absorption, Water pollution, Pumice, Nitrate solution ,

Abstract :

The surge in population and imprudent consumption of water resources have created many challenges in securing sufficient water for sustaining human life. To supply part of the water demand for agriculture, the reuse of gray water is recommended. However, many decontamination methods are cost-prohibitive and pose challenges in sludge disposal after purification. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the feasibility of nitrate absorption by a mineral pumice adsorbent from nitrate solutions. The present study was conducted as a two-factor factorial experiment and complete randomized design with three replications. The study involved sampling mineral pumice with diameters of 1 cm, and 5 cm and gradation ranging from 1 to 5 cm over 45 days. The samples were calibrated by spectrophotometric method at a wavelength of 470 nm. Results showed that mineral pumice influenced nitrate absorption from the solution. The amount of nitrate in the control treatment was 0.88 grams per liter on the first day. The highest absorption occurred on the 20th day for the 1 cm soil gradation, resulting in a decrease to 0.62 grams per liter, which indicated 0.36 grams per liter of nitrate absorption. Larger gradations, however, showed the highest absorption on the 30th day. The 5 cm treatments and 1-5 cm gradation showed a reduction (absorption) of 0.19 and 0.27 grams per liter of nitrate, respectively, compared to the control treatment. According to the results, mineral pumice, an economical resource, can be used to absorb nitrate from nitrate solutions. Moreover, the used mineral pumice could find applications as a soil texture modifier or fertilizer in various fields beyond nitrate absorption.

References:

Alemayehu, E., & Lennartz, B. (2009). Virgin volcanic rocks: kinetics and equilibrium studies for the adsorption of cadmium from water. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 169, 395–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2010.08.009
Arrigo, I., Catalfamo, P., Cavallari, L & Di Pasquale, S. (2007). Use of zeolitized pumice waste as a water softening agent. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 147, 513–517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.01.061
Avatefinejat, G., & Asrari, E. (2017). Investigating the removal of nitrate from the water environment in the process of phytoremediation by Eichhornia crassipes. Iranian Water Resources Research Quarterly, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.3233/AJW-170008. (In Persian)
Avishan, M., Nazari Kudahi, S., & Noorpoor, A. (2020). Determining CO2 absorption efficiency of different process industries on pumice adsorbent modified with TEPA. Environmental Quarterly, 46(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.06.521. (In Persian)
Azizkhani, V., Soltani, M., & Samipourgiri, M. (2023). Nitrate removal study from urban raw sewage (Tehran) by walnut tree sawdust using surface absorption method. Water and Wastewater Science and Engineering Quarterly, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.22112/jwwse.2022.348421.1318. (In Persian)
Bakhshandegan Moghaddam, F., & Hoseini, P. (2022). The quality standard of water pollution and the permissible limit of pollutants and treated effluents. The 3rd International Conference on Architecture, Civil Engineering, Urban Development, Environment and Horizons of Islamic Art in the Second Step Statement of the Revolution. (In Persian)
Damavandi, A., Sadi, H., Naderi mahdiei, K., & Malekian., A. (2023). Evaluation of agricultural water poverty index of Hamadan province and identification of critical components. Two quarterly water and Sustainable Development, 1(10). https://doi.org/10.22067/jwsd.v10i1.2207-1165. (In Persian)
Deganello, F., Liotta, L., Macaluso, A., Venezia, A., & Deganello, G. (2000). Catalytic reduction of nitrates and nitrites in water solution on pumice-supported Pd–Cu catalysts. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 24(3-4), 265-273. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0926-3373(99)00109-5
Dindarlou, K., Sheikh mohammadi., & Jamali, H. (2021). Optimization of nitrate removal from drinking water sources by pumice modified with magnesium chloride by applying Benken's box design method. Preventive Medicine Quarterly, 8(4). (In Persian)
Ehsangar, M., Charm, M., & Farokhian, A. (2013). Investigating the possibility of absorbing Nitrate from Ahvaz urban wastewater by means of zeolite columns, activated carbon and sand. Iran's National Environmental Research Conference, Shahid Muftah College, Hamedan. (In Persian)
Eslamian, S S., & Okhravi, S S. (2015). A quantitative look at the phenomenon of climate change and solutions to compromise with it. Scientific Journal of Rain Catchment Surface Systems, 3. (In Persian)
Ganjizadeh, A., & Ashrafizadeh, N. (2017). Determining the optimal conditions for water desalination with the electrodialysis process. Oil Research Journal, 26(4). (In Persian)
Hadadi, S., Eslamkish, T., Dolati, F., Rezapoor, M., Heidartaymeh, M., & Sadeghzadeh, M. (2013). Adsorption of heavy metal cadmium from aqueous solution by natural pumice. The first national conference of new technologies in chemistry and chemical engineering. (In Persian)
Houshmand, M., & Khorrampanah, M. (2021). Smart city solutions to deal with water shortage crisis based on KNX protocol. Quarterly Journal of Water and Wastewater Science and Engineering, 2(6). https://doi.org/10.22112/jwwse.2021.238848.1215. (In Persian)
Kaboodvand, F., Rezaei, H., & Javadpoor, J. (2014). Synthesis of zeolite LTA and absorption of calcium ion from water by it. Ceramic Science and Engineering Quarterly, 3(4). (In Persian)
Kalantaryan, M., & Arzumanyan, A. (2021). Water absorption capacity of irind mine pumice. Journal of Architectural and Engineering Research 1(1). https://doi.org/10.54338/27382656-2021.1-6
Kalaruban, M., Loganathan, P., Shim, W., Kandasamy, J., & Vigneswaran, S. (2018). Mathematical modelling of nitrate removal from water using a submerged membrane adsorption hybrid system with four adsorbents. Applied Sciences, 8(2), 194. https://doi.org/10.3390/app8020194
Mahdavi mazdeh, A., Liaghat, A., & Sheikhmohammadi, Y. (2011). Nitrate removal from agricultural runoff using modified zeolite. Iranian Water Research Journal, 5(1). (In Persian)
Mahvi, A., Heibati, B., Mesdaghinia, A., & Yari, A. (2012). Fluoride adsorption by pumice from aqueous solutions. E-Journal of Chemistry, 9(4), 1843-1853.
Malakootian, M., Jaefarzadeh, N., Hoseini, H., & Mousavi, S G. (2010). Ammonium removal from aqueous solution using pumice adsorbent in static and dynamic conditions. The 13th Environmental Health Conference. (In Persian)
Naseri, S., Heibati, B., Asadi, A., & Golestani, A. (2013). Investigating the effectiveness of modified pumice in removing nitrate from aqueous solutions: Isotherm and adsorption kinetics study. The Journal of Tolo Health Bimonthly, 12(1). (In Persian)
Neshat, A., Rashidi meherabadi, A., Aligardashi, A., & Tajrobekar, O. (2016). Investigating the process of autotrophic denitrification with different sulfur sources in removing nitrate from water. Environmental Quarterly, 42(2). (In Persian)
Noorisepehr, M., Amranen, A., KArimian, K., Zarrabian, M., & Ghaffari, H. (2014). Potential of waste pumice and surface modified pumice for hexavalent chromium removal: Characterization, equilibrium, thermodynamic and kinetic study. Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 45(2). 635-645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtice.2013.07.005
Rashad, A. (2019). A short manual on natural pumice as a lightweight aggregate. Journal of Building Engineering, 25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2019.100802
Rezaei, M. (2022). Water crisis: social dilemma. Water and Wastewater Science and Engineering Quarterly, 4(7). https://doi.org/10.22112/jwwse.2022.330611.1311. (In Persian)
Sedghi, Z., Nadiri, A., Sadegfam, S., Asadi, S., & Say, F. (2023). Non-carcinogenic risk assessment of nitrogen compounds in drinking water supply sources of Mako-Bazargan-Poldasht area. The Journal of Hydrogeomorphology, 34(10). https://doi.org/10.22034/hyd.2023.54394.1668. (In Persian)
Shahveh, S., Sedighi, M., & Mohammadi,M. (2020). New use of combining biological and physical methods to remove nitrate and nitrite from water. Environmental Science and Technology Quarterly, 3(22). (In Persian)
Shirdel, E., Abdollahnejat, A., Raisivand, Sh., Ebrahimi, A., & Jaefari, N. (2017). Investigating the performance of the dilution method to reduce water nitrate in Faridan city. Health System Research Quarterly, 13(4). (In Persian)
Solgi, I., & Orouji, B. (2017). Investigation of nitrate and nitrite concentration in underground water of urban and agricultural areas in Asadabad plain. Iranian Water Resources Research Quarterly, 4(13). (In Persian)
Rice, E. W., Bridgewater, L., & American Public Health Association (Eds.). (2012). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (Vol. 10). Washington, DC: American public health association.
Tabandeh, L., & Zarei, M. (2018). An overview of nitrate concentration in some vegetables and summer production in Zanjan province. Journal of Soil Research, 3(32). https://doi.org/10.22092/ijsr.2018.117826. (In Persian)
Turan, D., Kocahakimoğlu, C., Boyacı, E., Sofuoglu, S., & Eroğlu, A. (2014). Chitosan-Immobilized Pumice for the Removal of As(V) from Waters. Journal of Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 225.
Zare haghi, D., Neishabouri, M., Sadeghzadeh, M., & Hasanpour, R. (2015). Effect of pumice on soil water holding capacity, growth and yield of spring safflower in rainy conditions. Quarterly Journal of Soil Management and Sustainable Production, 5(3). (In Persian)