Three diverse-sized organic acids have distinct effect on P-PO43− uptake by HZO-201.
The small-sized GA reduce capacity of P-PO43− by competing for sites directly.
The middle-large TA inhibit P-PO43− adsorption rate due to pore blockage.
The largest HA pose little impact on P-PO43− removal because of size exclusion.
The organic acids compete for R-N+(CH3)3 of HZO-201 instead of the nano-HZO sites.