Passive detection of phosphorus in agricultural drainage waters using reactive hybrid anion exchange resins

Li, Zhe

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/109552 Copy

Description

Title

Passive detection of phosphorus in agricultural drainage waters using reactive hybrid anion exchange resins

Author(s)

Li, Zhe

Issue Date

2020-08-25

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Arai, Yuji

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Mulvaney, Richard

Committee Member(s)

• Chu, Maria Librada
• Shang, Jianying

Department of Study

Natural Res & Env Sci

Discipline

Natural Res & Env Sciences

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Phosphorus
• passive sampling
• tile drainage

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) loss from agricultural fields has long been an environmental issue due to its negative impact on aquatic ecosystems such as eutrophication and hypoxia. To reduce agricultural P loss, large-scale P monitoring activities are needed to identify specific fields and or watersheds that are major contributors of P loss. A passive detection technique can be ideal for the monitoring of concentrations and loads of dissolved reactive P (DRP) from a large number of agricultural waterways because of its simplicity and cost effectiveness. The passive detection technique involves the deployment of a reactive adsorbent in water for known periods, and the concentration of P in the adsorbent will be extrapolated to estimate the load of P. Finding an appropriate adsorbent, which has a high affinity for DRP, is critical in developing a successful passive sampling method. Accordingly, polystyrene and polyacrylic anion exchange resins with different functional groups (i.e., strong-base and weak-base) were selected from a large pool of adsorbents (e.g., anion exchange resins, calcium and magnesium oxides, hybrid anion exchange resins, layered double hydroxides, metal oxyhydroxides, zerovalent iron, and zirconium and lanthanum oxides) and evaluated for the use as a P sink. While the pure resins had a non-selective affinity for P, iron (hydr)oxide coated anion exchange resins (hybrid resins) were more selective for phosphate against nitrate and sulfate. Hybrid resins also had high adsorption capacity for DRP (6.33-19.84 mg/g) and high kinetic performance (second-order kinetic rate constant at 0.035-0.127 g/(mg·min)). Furthermore, the hybrid resins was stable and had irreversible characteristics for adsorbed P, making the material suitable for the passive detection method. The passive detection technique with hybrid polystyrene and polyacrylic resins were evaluated to monitor DRP in tile waters during spring storm events. The field-calibrated passive sampling method with hybrid resins produced DRP concentrations of tile waters with no significant difference (p > 0.05) with the auto-sampling data, but the technique should be improved to minimize the interference from particulate matter and high flow rate. In conclusion, the passive detection technique with iron oxide coated anion exchange resins is a promising technique to monitor the flux of DRP in eutrophic waters at regional- and watershed-scales.

Graduation Semester

2020-12

Type of Resource

Thesis

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109552

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2020 Zhe Li

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