Research progress of phosphorus adsorption by attapulgite and its prospect as a filler of constructed wetlands to enhance phosphorus removal from mariculture wastewater

Recently, attapulgite (AT) as an adsorbent to remove phosphorus from eutrophic water and sediment have progressively become a burgeoning research field. Herein, an in-depth overview of the adsorption efficiency, mechanism and modified materials of AT on phosphorus in fresh water is presented. The prospect using AT as the filler of constructed wetlands (CWs) to enhance phosphorus removement from mariculture wastewater are prospected. Meanwhile, the sources and pathways of nutrients causing eutrophication of coastal waters are summarized. The contribution of input nutrients from mariculture to eutrophication of coastal waters is clarified, and the application prospect and existing problems of CWs in treating mariculture wastewater are discussed. Moreover, the paper points out the problems and solutions that need to be solved first when AT is used as the filler of CWs to remove phosphorus from mariculture wastewater. The outlooks of future research directions are also proposed.