Experiment on phosphorus removal by activated alumina

The characteristics of activated alumina which is taken as filter media to remove phosphorus and turbidity in drinking water were studied, and the biological stability of effluent was analyzed. When total phosphorus concentration of effluent was in range of 35-45 μg/L and turbidity was from 3 to 6 NTU, phosphorus and turbidity removal efficiency with different granula size of activated alumina, L/d10 value, pH value and filtration velocity was surveyed. The result showed that filtration performance would be worse with very higher or lower value of granula size, L/d10, pH and higher filtration velocity. Total phosphorus removal efficiency was up to peak value while granula size of activated alumina was in range of 0.71-1.25 mm, L/d10 1200, pH around 6 and filtration velocity was lower. On the optimal condition, the effluent could keep biological stability in 16 hours, when the concentration of total phosphorus was less than 10 μg/L.