Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2017ND327B

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Phosphate Removal from Wastewater

Institute: North Dakota
Year Established: 2017 Start Date: 2017-03-01 End Date: 2018-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $5,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $10,000

Principal Investigators: Achintya Bezbaruah

Project Summary: The proposed research takes on the task of assessing the feasibility of implementing molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for phosphate removal from wastewater. This work will involve comparative studies of several different MIPs to compare sorption capacity, phosphate selectivity under varying pH, anionic interference, temperature conditions, and biodegradation rates. Each MIP will be thoroughly characterized. This will eventually lead into developing a modified MIP to optimize phosphate removal and selectivity, while minimizing the rate of biodegradation. Developing MIPs for phosphate removal will provide an affordable sorbent which is selective in removing phosphate. Desorption of phosphate from the polymeric matrix will also be studied to assess the potential for recycling of the polymer and phosphate recovery.