Phosphorus and nitrogen removal using novel porous bricks incorporated with wastes and minerals

In this study, wastes and minerals were incorporated into the production of bricks as a kind of waterpurifying substrate. The brick contained 72% clay, 10% bagasse, 10% steel slag, 5% zeolite, and 3% calcite by weight. The brick exhibited highly and hierarchically porous structure. It can remove phosphate and ammonium simultaneously from aqueous solutions with the maximum adsorption amount of 3.8 mg/g for phosphate and 0.7 mg/g for ammonium. Kinetic analysis showed that the brick had a faster removal rate for phosphate than ammonium. The maximum desorbability of phosphate and ammonium were found to be 5.9% and 13.9%, respectively. Considering wastes recycling, easy fabrication, and favorable properties, this type of brick has the potential to be applied to in-situ remediation of aquatic environment.