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[Display omitted] • Novel MM–TCMRs were synthesized for concurrent removal of phosphate and ammonium. • MM–TCMRs exhibits excellent phosphate and ammonium adsorption capacity. • Potential phosphate and ammonium removal mechanism with MM–TCMRs was proposed. • >70 % phosphate and ammonium were recovered from swine wastewater after four cycles. • Nutrient–loaded MM–TCMRs is applied as a fertilizer to promote alfalfa growth. Magnetic magnesium (Mg)–loaded Chinese herbal medicine residues (MM–TCMRs) were fabricated to simultaneously remove and recover phosphate and ammonium from wastewater. The MM–TCMRs exhibited larger specific surfaces and rougher structures with massive spherical particles than those of original residues. They could be separated by adjusting the magnetic field. The phosphate and ammonium adsorption by MM–TCMRs were matched with the pseudo–second–order model, while the Langmuir model yielded the maximum adsorption capacities of 635.35 and 615.57 mg g−1, respectively. Struvite precipitation on the MM–TCMRs surface was the primary removal mechanism with electrostatic attraction, ligand exchange, intra–particle diffusion, and ion exchange also involved. The recyclability of MM–TCMRs confirmed their good structural stability. More importantly, the nutrient–loaded MM–TCMRs enhanced alfalfa growth and improved soil fertility in planting experiments. Collectively, the MM–TCMRs are promising candidates for nutrient removal and recovery from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to mitigate the harmful effects of eutrophication in water bodies, the applications of lanthanum-modified materials for phosphate removal from wastewater have attracted much attention. Unlike conventional adsorbents, plant wastes usually have poor adsorption abilities and are difficult to be reused for desorption of phosphate due to their small pore sizes and ununiform loading of modified ions. In this paper, a composite adsorbent (LC-MM) was synthesized by hydrothermal treatment of waste traditional Chinese medical materials (MMs) with load of lanthanum carbonate and co-heating treatment with coal fly ash (CFA), which was applied to remove phosphate from water. The results showed that maximum adsorption capacity of LC-MM was 52 mg g−1, and the LC-MM showed appreciable adsorption capacity of phosphate for agricultural wastewater in the presence of complex interfering ions and for urban surface waters with low phosphate concentrations. Five adsorption-desorption cycles showed good reusability. The mechanism study showed that the La3+ ions were more uniformly distributed on the surface of the absorbents with the introduction of Fe3+, Al3+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions in CFA. The ligand exchange between phosphate and carbonate, the internal spherical complexation formed by lanthanum ion and phosphate, and surface chemical precipitation attachment are the main reasons why the adsorption capacity of LC-MM approached or even surpassed that of conventional lanthanum-modified adsorbents. In conclusions, this work proposed an effective method for the modification of plant materials. [Display omitted] • Reuse of two types of waste after treatment. • A method to improve the inefficiency of phosphate adsorption by plant materials. • The mechanism of modification is to influence the state of lanthanum on the surface of the carrier. • Effect of phosphate separated after adsorption on plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to mitigate the harmful effects of eutrophication in water bodies, the applications of lanthanum-modified materials for phosphate removal from wastewater have attracted much attention. Unlike conventional adsorbents, plant wastes usually have poor adsorption abilities and are difficult to be reused for desorption of phosphate due to their small pore sizes and ununiform loading of modified ions. In this paper, a composite adsorbent (LC-MM) was synthesized by hydrothermal treatment of waste traditional Chinese medical materials (MMs) with load of lanthanum carbonate and co-heating treatment with coal fly ash (CFA), which was applied to remove phosphate from water. The results showed that maximum adsorption capacity of LC-MM was 52 mg g−1, and the LC-MM showed appreciable adsorption capacity of phosphate for agricultural wastewater in the presence of complex interfering ions and for urban surface waters with low phosphate concentrations. Five adsorption-desorption cycles showed good reusability. The mechanism study showed that the La3+ ions were more uniformly distributed on the surface of the absorbents with the introduction of Fe3+, Al3+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions in CFA. The ligand exchange between phosphate and carbonate, the internal spherical complexation formed by lanthanum ion and phosphate, and surface chemical precipitation attachment are the main reasons why the adsorption capacity of LC-MM approached or even surpassed that of conventional lanthanum-modified adsorbents. In conclusions, this work proposed an effective method for the modification of plant materials. [Display omitted] • Reuse of two types of waste after treatment. • A method to improve the inefficiency of phosphate adsorption by plant materials. • The mechanism of modification is to influence the state of lanthanum on the surface of the carrier. • Effect of phosphate separated after adsorption on plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]