Recent advances in the removal and recovery of phosphorus from aqueous solution by metal-based adsorbents: A review

In recent years, increasing eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems has necessitated addressing phosphorus pollution. With the exploitation of phosphate mines, phosphorus resources are becoming increasingly scarce. If the recovery and utilization of phosphate can be achieved while removing phosphate, there will be a promising future. Adsorption has emerged as a particularly effective method for both phosphorus recovery from water bodies and eutrophication mitigation. Studies have shown that the interaction between metal (e.g. Al, Ca, Fe, La, Mg, Mn, Zn, Zr) ions and phosphates significantly enhances the adsorption efficiency. This review summarizes recent progress in the removal and recovery of phosphate from water using metal-loaded adsorbents. It provides a detailed overview of the principles underlying the fabrication of metal-based adsorbents, their adsorption and regeneration mechanisms, and their performance in phosphate removal under various experimental setups. This comprehensive review offers valuable insights for future research aimed at developing integrated systems for phosphorus removal and recycling.