Tailoring ferro-manganese functionalized zeolite for enhanced deodorization of poultry manure

Abstract

This study investigates the development of ferromanganese (Fe-Mn), zeolite-A and Fe-Mn-zeolite-A for the removal of some organic compounds from poultry manure. Fe-Mn was synthesized using the co-precipitation method, zeolite-A was synthesized from kaolin using a hydrothermal method, and Fe-Mn-zeolite-A nanocomposite was synthesized using the wet impregnation method to treat poultry manure. These nanomaterials were characterized using HRSEM-EDS, XRD, BET, HRTEM, and FTIR. HRSEM and HRTEM analysis reveals Fe-Mn consists of uniform spherical-like particles while zeolite-A has a less agglomerated cubic structure, and the Fe-Mn-zeolite-A shows a mixture of the cubic surface of zeolite-A and spherical Fe-Mn nanoparticles. EDS confirmed the presence of Al, Si, Fe, and Mn in the nanocomposite. XRD/HRSEM pattern revealed Fe-Mn spherical crystal structure (21.30 nm), spinel cubic crystal structure for zeolite-A with size (86.72 nm), while Fe-Mn-zeolite-A nanocomposite displays strong crystallinity and a mixture of spherical and cubic crystal structures (19.40 nm). FTIR spectrum of Fe-Mn indicates stretching vibration of metal-oxygen bonds in the Fe-Mn- lattice, zeolite-A peaks show bending and stretching vibration of water molecules within the zeolite, Si-O stretching vibrations, while the peaks of Fe-Mn-zeolite-A shows the combination of metal-oxygen and Si-O stretching vibrations, emphasizing synergistic behaviour between Fe-Mn and zeolite-A in the nanocomposite. The BET analysis results reveal the specific surface areas of Fe-Mn, zeolite-A, and Fe-Mn-zeolite-A nanocomposite as 58.66 m²/g, 15.88 m²/g, and 92.62 m²/g, respectively. The column adsorption experiment investigation revealed that Fe-Mn-zeolite-A nanocomposite was able to remove more dimethylamine up to 97.57% within 60 min, while indole was the least adsorbed organic compound (10.05%). Other removed compounds include 2-butanone (54.34%), cyclohexane (73.7%), toluene (81.81%), butanoic acid (70.12%) and 1-methoxy-1,3-cyclohexadiene (74.39%) at the end of 60 min contact time. The results of the isotherms and kinetics show that the order of fit for the prepared nanomaterials was Fe-Mn-zeolite-A > Fe-Mn > zeolite-A for the removal of selected organic compounds and the nanocomposite showed limited recyclability. This study demonstrated that Fe-Mn-zeolite-A nanocomposite are efficient in the removal of the selected organic compounds from poultry manure. • Fe-Mn-zeolite-A was successfully via hydrothermal and wet impregnation methods. • Fe–Mn and zeolite-A synergy enhanced structure, crystallinity, and surface area. • Fe–Mn–zeolite-A nanocomposite achieved highest organic pollutant removal. • Maximum dimethylamine removal reached 97.57% within 60 min of adsorption time. • Adsorption kinetics favored Fe–Mn–zeolite A over individual components.