Effect of CeO2 on the preparation of functional ceramsite and the adsorption effect of ammonia-nitrogen wastewater treatment

This study investigates the effect of rare earth oxide CeO₂ on the physical properties of ceramsite and its efficiency in treating ammonia-nitrogen wastewater. Ceramsite was prepared from solid waste with 10 % coal gangue added as a pore-forming agent. Ceramsite sample I with CeO₂ and sample II without CeO₂ were prepared using pure reagents. The process parameters for both samples were optimized using an orthogonal test. Additionally, the effects of CeO₂ on ceramsite performance and the treatment of ammonia-nitrogen wastewater were studied, and the adsorption mechanism of CeO₂ on ammonia-nitrogen wastewater was clarified. The process parameters for preparing ceramsite sample Ⅰ were: preheating for 30 min at 600 °C, followed by roasting for 20 min at 1090 °C. The parameters for preparing ceramsite sample Ⅱ were: preheating for 30 min at 600 °C, followed by roasting time for 15 min at 1090 °C. The presence of CeO₂ increased the porosity of the ceramsite by 0.89 % and the specific surface area by 0.66 m²/g. Under neutral environmental conditions of water samples, CeO₂ increased the removal rate of ammonia nitrogen by 1.85 %. Ceramsite has a high porosity and specific surface area, indicating that it has abundant internal pores, a large contact area with ammonia-nitrogen, a strong ability to remove ammonia nitrogen, and resistance to erosion and water flow shear, which are conducive to the treatment of ammonia-nitrogen wastewater.