Preparation and evaluation of Zr-β-FeOOH for efficient arsenic removal

A Zr-β-FeOOH adsorbent for both As(V) and As(III) removal was prepared by a chemical co-precipitation method.Compared with β-FeOOH,the addition of Zr enhanced the adsorption capacities for As(V) and As(III),especially As(III).The maximum adsorption capacities for As(III) and As(V) were 120 and 60mg/g respectively at pH 7.0,much higher than for many reported adsorbents.The adsorption data accorded with Freundlich isotherms.At neutral pH,for As(V),adsorption equilibrium was approached after 3 hr,while for As(III),adsorption equilibrium was approached after 5 hr.Kinetic data fitted well to the pseudo second-order reaction model.As(V) elimination was favored at acidic pH,whereas the adsorption of As(III) by Zr-β-FeOOH was found to be effective over a wide pH range of 4-10.Competitive anions hindered the adsorption according to the sequence:phosphate > silicate > bicarbonate > sulfate > nitrate,while Ca2+ and Mg2+ increased the removal of As(III) and As(V) slightly.The high adsorption capability and good performance in other aspects make Zr-β-FeOOH a potentially attractive adsorbent for the removal of both As(III) and As(V) from water.     

不同沉淀pH值条件下制备的水合氧化锆对水中磷酸盐的吸附作用

研究了沉淀pH值分别为4.8、8.0和10.6条件下制备的水合氧化锆对水中磷酸盐的吸附作用,结果表明,共存的Na~+仅仅略微促进了沉淀pH值为4.8和8.0时所得水合氧化锆对水中磷酸盐的吸附,却明显促进了沉淀pH值为10.6时所得水合氧化锆对磷酸盐的吸附.共存的Ca~(2+)仅仅略微促进了沉淀pH值为4.8时水合氧化锆对磷酸盐的吸附,却极大地促进了沉淀pH值为8.0和10.6时水合氧化锆对磷酸盐的吸附.共存的HCO_3~-和SO_4~(2-)抑制了水合氧化锆对磷酸盐的吸附,且它们对沉淀pH值为4.8时水合氧化锆吸磷的抑制作用明显大于对沉淀pH值为8.0和10.6时水合氧化锆的抑制作用.不同沉淀pH值条件下制备的水合氧化锆对水中磷酸盐的吸附能力均随着溶液pH值的增加而降低.不同沉淀pH值条件下所得水合氧化锆对水中磷酸盐的吸附平衡数据可以采用Langmuir、Freundlich和Dubinin-Redushckevich(D-R)等温吸附模型加以描述.存在Na+而不存在Ca~(2+)情况下,3种不同沉淀pH值条件下所得水合氧化锆对中性溶液中磷酸盐的最大单层吸附容量差别不大;存在Ca~(2+)情况下,沉淀pH值为8.0和10.6时所得水合氧化锆对中性溶液中磷酸盐的最大单层吸附容量远远高于沉淀pH值为4.8时制备的水合氧化锆.沉淀pH值为4.8和8.0时所得水合氧化锆的吸磷机制主要是表面氯和羟基基团与磷酸盐之间的配位体交换作用,而沉淀pH值为10.6时所得水合氧化锆的吸磷机制主要是表面羟基基团与磷酸盐之间的配位体交换作用.以上研究结果显示,与沉淀pH值为4.8时制备的水合氧化锆相比,沉淀pH值为8.0和10.6时制备的水合氧化锆更加适合作为吸附剂去除废水中的磷酸盐.     

粉煤灰合成沸石同步脱氨除磷特性的研究

利用粉煤灰合成沸石,研究其在同步去除氮、磷方面的特性.合成沸石对氨氮和磷酸盐的吸附净化均随时间增加而变化,但均在24h后基本达到平衡.随合成沸石投加量的增加,同步去除污水中氮磷的效果越好,但在投加量为8 g·L^-1以上时去除率的增加明显放慢.在pH为7～9时氨氮去除率最高(约60%),超过此pH范围时去除率降低.在pH 7～9范围磷去除率达最低(约为85%),超过此pH范围时去除率增加(最高达到近100%).合成沸石对氨氮的吸附为放热反应,对磷的吸附为吸热反应.不同阳离子饱和的合成沸石对氨氮的吸附顺序依次为:Al>Mg>Ca>Na>Fe,对磷的吸附顺序则为:Al>Fe>Ca>Mg>Na.合成沸石的氨氮吸附机理为阳离子交换作用,对磷的去除除化学沉淀作用外尚有吸附机制.     

Use of zeolitized coal fly ash in the simultaneous removal of ammonium and phosphate from aqueous solution

Discharge of wastewater containing nitrogen and phosphate can cause eutrophication. Therefore, the development of an efficient material for the immobilization of the nutrients is important. In this study, a low calcium fly ash and high calcium fly ash were converted into zeolite using the hydrothermal method. The removal of ammonium and phosphate that coexist in aqueous solution by the synthesized zeolites were studied. The results showed that zeolitized fly ash could efficiently eliminate ammonium and phosphate at the same time. Saturation of zeolite with Ca²⁺ rather than Na⁺ favored the removal of both ammonium and phosphate because the cation exchange reaction by the NH₄ ⁺ resulted in the release of Ca²⁺ into the solution and precipitation of Ca²⁺ with PO₄ ³⁻ followed. An increase in the temperature elevated the immobilization of phosphate whereas it abated the removal of ammonium. Nearly 60% removal efficiency for ammonium was achieved in the neutral pH range from 5.5 to 10.5, while the increase or decrease in pH out of the neutral range lowered the adsorption. In contrast, the removal of phosphate approached 100% at a pH lower than 5.0 or higher than 9.0, and less phosphate was immobilized at neutral pH. However, there was still a narrow pH range from 9.0 to 10.5 favoring the removal of both ammonium and phosphate. It was concluded that the removal of ammonium was caused by cation exchange; the contribution of NH₃ volatilization to immobilization at alkaline conditions (up to pH level of 11.4) was limited. With respect to phosphate immobilization, the mechanism was mainly the formation of precipitate as Ca₃(PO₄)₂ within the basic pH range or as FePO₄ and AlPO₄ within acidic pH range.     

海藻酸锆/聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺半互穿网络凝胶球的除磷性能

利用离子交联和自由基聚合反应制备了一种海藻酸锆/聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)半互穿网络凝胶球(ZA/PNIPAM),用于吸附水中的磷酸盐.考察了溶液初始pH、吸附剂投加量、初始磷酸盐浓度和共存阴离子等因素对凝胶球吸附性能的影响.结果表明:ZA/PNIPAM在pH=2时可获得较大的吸附能力;随着投加量的减少、初始磷酸盐浓度的升高,凝胶球的吸附性能逐渐增大;SO_4~(2-)对吸附性能影响较Cl~-和NO_3~-明显.准二级动力学模型和颗粒内部扩散模型可以较好地拟合动力学吸附数据,表明表面吸附和颗粒内部扩散是吸附速率的主要控制步骤.吸附等温线数据可以较好地被Freundlich模型描述,表明吸附过程为非均匀多分子层吸附.FTIR、XPS、零电荷点(pH_(pzc))的结果以及相关吸附数据揭示凝胶球吸附磷酸盐的机制为静电吸附(物理吸附)以及配位交换(化学吸附)的共同作用.经过4次循环再生后,ZA/PNIPAM吸附性能保持稳定,具有良好的重复使用性.     

新型铁铜铝三元复合氧化物除磷性能与机制研究

采用共沉淀法制备了一种新型铁铜铝三元复合氧化物吸附剂,系统研究了其对磷的吸附行为,并对吸附磷前后的吸附剂进行了表征.吸附实验结果表明,铁铜铝三元复合氧化物对磷具有优异的吸附去除效能,Freundlich吸附等温线模型能更好地拟合其对磷的吸附,最大吸附量为62.6 mg·g-1(pH=7.0),显著高于多数文献报道的磷吸附剂;吸附速率较快,吸附动力学更符合Elovich模型;溶液pH对磷吸附有一定影响,随着pH的升高,磷吸附量降低,离子强度则影响不大;共存阴离子对磷吸附具有抑制作用,影响的大小顺序为SiO_3~(2-)SO_4~(2-)CO_3~(2-)Cl~-,而共存阳离子Ca2+和Mg2+则对磷吸附略有促进作用.Zeta电位、红外谱图(FTIR)和X射线光电子能谱(XPS)表征分析表明,磷在铁铜铝三元复合氧化物表面发生了特性吸附,磷酸根主要通过取代复合氧化物表面的羟基形成内表面络合物而被吸附去除.溶出实验结果表明,当pH在5.0~8.5范围内,Fe~(3+)、Cu~(2+)、Al~(3+)的溶出量均较低.由此可知,铁铜铝三元复合氧化物是一种具有良好应用前景的除磷吸附剂.     

鸟粪石-沸石复合材料对水中镉的吸附性能研究

研究以氧化镁负载沸石回收污水中氮磷得到的鸟粪石-沸石复合材料(STR-NZ)为吸附剂,用于对水体中重金属镉的吸附去除.实验采用SEM-EDS、XRD和FTIR等手段对STR-NZ材料进行表征,并考察了投加量、初始pH和反应时间等对STR-NZ材料去除水中Cd~(2+)的影响.结果表明:氧化镁负载沸石材料主要以鸟粪石沉淀的方式实现对水中磷酸盐和氨氮的回收;STR-NZ对水溶液中Cd~(2+)的吸附量随pH的增大呈先增加后趋于平衡的趋势,当Cd~(2+)的初始浓度为50 mg·L~(-1)时,STR-NZ的最佳投加量为0.2 g·L~(-1),Cd~(2+)最大吸附量为249.35 mg·g~(-1), STR-NZ对Cd~(2+)的吸附动力学符合准二级动力学模型,对Cd~(2+)的等温吸附符合Langmuir等温吸附模型,STR-NZ主要通过Cd_5(PO_4)_3(OH)沉淀的方式实现对水中Cd~(2+)的去除.     

铁锰复合氧化物包覆海砂的吸附除磷研究

利用铁锰复合氧化物包覆海砂制备了一种用于污水除磷的新型颗粒状吸附剂,并对其表面特性与磷吸附行为进行了研究.扫描电镜(SEM)分析结果表明,包覆后海砂颗粒表面凹凸不平且多孔,BET比表面积由0.06增至2.52 m2·g-1.磷吸附实验结果表明,包覆后海砂对磷的吸附能力显著提高,最大吸附容量为1.01~1.23 mg·g-1,优于多数文献报道的负载改性砂颗粒吸附剂;吸附动力学更符合准二级动力学方程,推测磷在包覆海砂表面发生了化学吸附;溶液p H对磷吸附有一定影响,离子强度则影响不大;共存阴离子对磷吸附影响的大小顺序为Si O2-3CO2-3F-SO2-4Cl-.     

改性颗粒活性炭对水中溴酸根的吸附特性研究

采用阳离子表面活性剂氯化十六烷基吡啶(CPC)改性颗粒活性炭以提高活性炭对溴酸根的吸附能力.通过小试研究了改性颗粒活性炭(GAC-CPC)对溴酸根的吸附特性,考察了BrO-3初始浓度、pH、共存阴离子等因素对吸附过程的影响.结果表明,CPC改性能显著提高GAC对BrO-3的吸附能力,吸附量随着初始浓度升高而增大;在碱性条件下GAC-CPC对BrO-3的吸附量减小;共存阴离子与BrO-3在GAC-CPC上存在竞争吸附,其影响顺序为:NO-3SO2-4PO3-4CO2-3.用准一级、准二级和颗粒内扩散动力学模型拟合GAC-CPC吸附BrO-3的动力学过程,结果表明,准二级动力学能更好的描述吸附过程,且孔扩散可能是改性GAC吸附BrO-3初始阶段的主要速率控制因素.用Langmuir和Freundlich等温吸附模型拟合不同温度下BrO-3的吸附平衡过程,结果表明,Langmuir等温吸附模型能很好的描述吸附平衡过程,GAC-CPC吸附BrO-3的过程是自发且放热的,温度升高不利于吸附.     

磁性吸附剂CeO2/MZFS去除水中盐酸四环素

利用废碱性电池制备得到尖晶石结构的锰锌铁氧体Mn_0.6Zn_0.4Fe₂O₄（MZF）,利用原位聚合制备得到硅包覆的磁性纳米复合物MZF@SiO₂（MZFS）,采用浸渍法制备得到集磁分离、吸附与类Fenton催化活性于一体的CeO₂/MZFS磁性吸附剂,并对其形貌和磁性能等进行了表征.结果表明,CeO₂/MZFS对水中盐酸四环素（TH）表现出良好的吸附性能,160 min吸附过程可达平衡,TH的去除率达到95%.吸附过程可用准二级动力学方程描述,化学吸附为速控步骤;Freundlich等温吸附模型能较好地描述该吸附过程,热力学计算结果表明,CeO₂/MZFS对TH的吸附是以物理吸附为主的自发吸热过程;利用红外光谱初步揭示了吸附机制.吸附TH后的CeO₂/MZFS可利用其非均相类Fenton催化活性以H₂O₂作为再生剂进行原位再生,6次循环使用后,CeO₂/MZFS对TH仍能保持较高的平衡吸附量.研究结果可为抗生素废水的治理提供理论指导和技术支持.     

Zn系LDHs覆膜改性人工湿地沸石基质除磷机制

选择Zn系层状双金属氢氧化物(LDHs),采用水热-共沉淀法合成3种不同类型的Zn-LDHs(Fe Zn-LDHs、Co Zn-LDHs和Al Zn-LDHs)并覆膜于常用人工湿地沸石基质表面;利用模拟垂直流人工湿地小试系统,对原始沸石及3种Zn-LDHs覆膜改性沸石基质进行除磷净化实验、等温吸附-解吸实验以及动力学吸附实验,通过上述实验对以Zn-LDHs覆膜改性沸石基质为代表的改性基质除磷机制进行研究.结果表明,Zn-LDHs覆膜改性沸石基质对磷素净化效果具有明显的提升功能,其中以Fe Zn-LDHs覆膜改性基质尤为突出;改性使基质的饱和吸附容量得以提高,增强了基质对磷酸盐的解吸性能,并使沸石基质对磷酸盐的主要吸附类型由物理吸附向化学吸附转换;通过对沸石基质类型及其改性方式的合理选择,可达到利用沸石人工湿地强化除磷以高效净化富营养化水体的目的.     

四氧化三铁改性沸石改良底泥对水中磷酸盐的吸附作用

研究了四氧化三铁(Fe_3O_4)改性沸石改良底泥对水中磷酸盐的吸附特征,并通过形态分级提取法研究了改良底泥中Fe_3O_4改性沸石吸附磷后的形态分布特征.结果表明,与准一级和准二级动力学模型相比,Elovich模型更适合用于描述未改良和改良底泥对水中磷酸盐的吸附动力学过程.未改良和改良底泥对水中磷酸盐的等温吸附实验数据可以采用Langmuir、Freundlich和Dubinin-Radushkevic模型进行描述.未改良和改良底泥对水中磷酸盐的吸附能力随着pH值的增加而下降,且水中共存的阳离子会促进底泥对磷酸盐的吸附,促进作用的大小排序为Ca~(2+) Mg~(2+) K~+,而水中共存的HCO_3~-会抑制底泥对磷酸盐的吸附.未改良和改良底泥吸附水中磷酸盐的机制包括静电吸引作用和配位体交换作用,而改良底泥中Fe_3O_4改性沸石则主要依靠配位体交换作用吸附去除水中的磷酸盐.改良底泥对水中磷酸盐的吸附能力明显优于未改良底泥,并且前者的磷释放风险低于后者.改良底泥中Fe_3O_4改性沸石吸附磷酸盐后将近49. 4%的磷会以潜在可移动态磷形式存在,需要及时采用外加磁场作用将Fe_3O_4改性沸石从底泥中移出,以消除Fe_3O_4改性沸石上磷发生再次释放的风险.以上的研究结果初步显示,Fe_3O_4改性沸石适合作为一种底泥改良剂用于河道内源磷释放的控制.     

La-EDTA coated Fe3O4 nanomaterial: Preparation and application in removal of phosphate from water

La-EDTA-Fe3O4 was prepared by a chemical co-precipitation method. The magnetic composite was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Furthermore, the adsorption properties of La-EDTA-Fe3O4 toward phosphate in water were investigated. The uptake rate of phosphate in water by La-EDTA-Fe3O4 was 3-1000 times than that of EDTA-Fe3O4 , and reached 97.8% at 7 hr. The adsorption process agreed well with the Freundlich model and kinetics studies showed that the adsorption of phosphate proceeds according to pseudo second-order adsorption kinetics. The maximum removal rate was achieved at pH 6.0-7.0. The La-EDTA-Fe3O4 had good adsorption properties and could be separated well from aqueous solution by a permanent magnet. Therefore, this nanomaterial has potential application for the removal of phosphate from large water bodies.     

改性玉米秸秆对水中磷酸根的吸附动力学研究

将化学改性后的玉米秸秆制备阴离子交换剂,重点研究了改性玉米秸秆对磷酸根的吸附动力学特性.通过静态实验,考察了在不同pH、温度、磷酸根初始浓度条件下,改性玉米秸秆对磷酸根吸附效果的影响,并分别用伪一级动力学方程、伪二级动力学方程、修正伪一级动力学方程和颗粒内扩散方程进行拟合,计算出相应的速率常数.结果表明,Langmuir等温模式能更好地描述改性玉米秸秆对磷酸根的吸附效果,并且随着温度的升高,改性玉米秸秆对磷酸根的最大吸附量逐渐减小.改性玉米秸秆对磷酸根的吸附是一个快速吸附过程,30 min内即可达到吸附平衡,该吸附过程符合伪二级动力学方程和颗粒内扩散方程,吸附速率主要受颗粒内扩散控制.随着初始浓度的增大,伪二级吸附速率常数逐渐减小,颗粒内扩散速率常数逐渐增大.通过改性玉米秸秆对磷酸根的吸附动力学研究,可以为反应器的设计和污水处理装置的运行提供基础信息,对于去除水溶液中磷酸根的技术应用具有重要实际意义.     

Mg-La-Fe/沸石复合材料的制备及其处理低浓度含磷废水的性能

以沸石为载体,选用镁、镧和铁为改性剂,采用水热法制备了一种新型高效且易于磁性分离回用的载镧磁性沸石吸附剂（MLFZ）.等温吸附和动力学研究结果表明,其吸附行为符合Langmuir等温模型和准二级动力学模型,MLFZ饱和吸附量为13.46 mg·g^-1; MLFZ在pH为3～9范围内均表现出良好的吸附性能,共存离子条件下对磷酸根具有特异吸附能力,通过磁性吸附重复使用5次后,MLFZ对磷酸盐去除率维持在90%左右,突显了其易于回收再利用的优点;FTIR、 XPS和Zeta电位表征显示,表面沉积、静电吸附作用和镧与磷酸盐通过配体交换形成内层络合物在吸附过程中为主要作用.将MLFZ用于处理自然池塘污水,结果显示磷酸盐浓度由0.86 mg·L^-1降低到0.013 mg·L^-1,表明该吸附剂具有良好的实际应用前景.     

Ciprofloxacin adsorption from aqueous solution onto chemically prepared carbon from date palm leaflets

A chemically prepared carbon was synthesized from date palm leaflets via sulphuric acid carbonization at 160℃. Adsorption of ciprofloxacin (CIP) from aqueous solution was investigated in terms of time, pH, concentration, temperature and adsorbent status (wet and dry). The equilibrium time was found to be 48 hr. The adsorption rate was enhanced by raising the temperature for both adsorbents, with adsorption data fitting a pseudo second-order model well. The activation energy, E_a, was found to be 17 kJ/mol, indicating a diffusion-controlled, physical adsorption process. The maximum adsorption was found at initial pH 6. The wet adsorbent showed faster removal with higher uptake than the dry adsorbent, with increased performance as temperature increased (25-45℃). The equilibrium data were found to fit the Langmuir model better than the Freundlich model. The thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic. The adsorption mechanism is mainly related to cation exchange and hydrogen bonding.     

HDTMA改性沸石的制备及吸附废水中对硝基苯酚的性能和动力学

采用十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(HDTMA)对天然沸石进行改性,研究了沸石的改性条件、改性沸石投加量、废水p H值、反应时间等对HDTMA改性沸石去除废水中对硝基苯酚性能的影响,并分析了吸附动力学和吸附等温线.结果表明,改性沸石对废水中对硝基苯酚的吸附效果明显高于天然沸石,当制备改性沸石的HDTMA溶液的质量分数为1.2%,且其p H值为10时,改性沸石对废水中对硝基苯酚的吸附量达到2.53 mg·g~(-1),远高于天然沸石的0.54 mg·g~(-1).吸附实验中,改性沸石投加量8 g·L~(-1),反应时间90 min,p H=6的条件下,HDTMA改性沸石对废水中对硝基苯酚的去除率高达93.9%.吸附动力学和等温线研究表明,一级动力学方程能够更好地拟合沸石吸附对硝基苯酚的过程(R20.90),不同温度条件下Langmuir等温线拟合方程的相关系数均在0.90以上,数据和方程拟合性较好.     

锆改性高岭土原位改良技术控制重污染河道底泥磷释放效果

采用锆对高岭土进行改性,通过批量吸附实验考察了锆改性高岭土对水中磷酸盐的吸附性能,并通过底泥培养实验考察了锆改性高岭土原位改良技术对底泥磷释放的控制效果.结果表明,锆改性高岭土对水中磷酸盐的吸附能力随改性所用锆投加量的增加而增加.在制备锆改性高岭土过程中,溶液沉淀p H值由8增加到10时,锆改性高岭土对水中磷酸盐的吸附能力增加;沉淀p H值由10增加到11时,锆改性高岭土对磷的吸附能力基本不变;沉淀p H值由11增加到12时,锆改性高岭土的吸磷能力则下降.沉淀p H值为10时制备得到的锆改性高岭土对水中磷酸盐的吸附平衡数据可以采用Langmuir模型加以描述.大部分被锆改性高岭土中锆所吸附的磷酸盐(84%左右)主要以Na OH提取态磷(Na OH-P)和残渣态磷(Res-P)形态存在,低溶解氧情况下不容易被重新释放出来,同时重污染河道底泥会释放出大量的溶解性磷酸盐进入上覆水体;向重污染河道底泥中添加锆改性高岭土可以极大地削减底泥中磷向上覆水体迁移的通量.采用锆改性高岭土对底泥进行改良不仅增强了底泥对水中磷的吸附能力,而且降低了底泥的磷吸附-解吸平衡浓度(EPC0).因此,应用锆改性高岭土作为底泥改良剂可以有效控制重污染河道底泥磷释放.     

Ca/Mg负载改性沼渣生物炭对水中磷的吸附特性

为处理含磷废水和实现沼渣资源化利用,将农业废弃物沼渣制备成生物炭(ZZs),通过Ca Cl2和MgCl2溶液对其进行浸渍改性,探究改性沼渣生物炭(CMZZs)对水体中磷的吸附特征.结果表明,改性后沼渣生物炭钙镁含量分别是改性前的1. 3和15. 4倍; SEM-EDS、BET、FTIR和XRD等测定表明,改性未改变生物炭表面化学官能团种类,但改性后生物炭出现新的衍射峰,与标准卡片对比后认为可能存在Mg(OH)_2、MgO等物质.当温度为303 K,溶液pH为9. 0时,CMZZs最大吸附量为76. 92 mg·g~(-1),是改性前的30. 1倍.等温吸附实验数据符合Freundlich方程,为多层吸附.吸附动力学分析发现,改性后生物炭在100 min内基本达到吸附平衡,吸附过程符合假二级动力学方程,以化学吸附为主.上述结果说明钙镁改性沼渣生物炭对于去除水中磷具有潜在价值.     

Effect of Na+ impregnated activated carbon on the adsorption of NH4+-N from aqueous solution

Two kinds of activated carbons modified by Na+ impregnation after pre-treatments involving oxidation by nitric acid or acidification by hydrochloric acid (denoted as AC/N-Na and AC/HCl-Na, respectively), were used as adsorbents to remove NH4+-N. The surface features of samples were investigated by BET, SEM, XRD and FT-IR. The adsorption experiments were conducted in equilibrium and kinetic conditions. Influencing factors such as initial solution pH and initial concentration were investigated. A possible mechanism was proposed. Results showed that optimal NH4+-N removal efficiency was achieved at a neutral pH condition for the modified ACs. The Langmuir isotherm adsorption equation provided a better fit than other models for the equilibrium study. The adsorption kinetics followed both the pseudo second-order kinetics model and intra-particle kinetic model. Chemical surface analysis indicated that Na+ ions form ionic bonds with available surface functional groups created by pre-treatment, especially oxidation by nitric acid, thus increasing the removal efficiency of the modified ACs for NH4+-N. Na+-impregnated ACs had a higher removal capability in removing NH4+-N than unmodified AC, possibly resulting from higher numbers of surface functional groups and better intra-particle diffusion. The good fit of Langmuir isotherm adsorption to the data indicated the presence of monolayer NH4+-N adsorption on the active homogenous sites within the adsorbents. The applicability of pseudo second-order and intra-particle kinetic models revealed the complex nature of the adsorption mechanism. The intra-particle diffusion model revealed that the adsorption process consisted not only of surface adsorption but also intra-particle diffusion.