Removal of phosphorus by modified bentonite:polyvinylidene fluoride membrane—study of adsorption performance and mechanism

Enhanced phosphorus management, geared towards sustainability, is imperative due to its indispensability for all life forms and its close association with water bodies’ eutrophication, primarily stemming from anthropogenic activities. In response to this concern, innovative technologies rooted in the circular economy are emerging, to remove and recover this vital nutrient to global food production. This research undertakes an evaluation of the dead-end filtration performance of a mixed matrix membrane composed of modified bentonite (MB) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for efficient phosphorus removal from water media. The MB:PVDF membrane exhibited higher permeability and surface roughness compared to the pristine membrane, showcasing an adsorption capacity ( Q ) of 23.2 mgP·m −2 . Increasing the adsorbent concentration resulted in a higher removal capacity (from 16.9 to 23.2 mgP·m −2 ) and increased solution flux (from 0.5 to 16.5 L·m −2 ·h −1 ) through the membrane. The initial phosphorus concentration demonstrates a positive correlation with the adsorption capacity of the material, while the system pressure positively influences the observed flux. Conversely, the presence of humic acid exerts an adverse impact on both factors. Additionally, the primary mechanism involved in the adsorption process is identified as the formation of inner-sphere complexes. Graphical Abstract