TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of a low-cost magnesium product for phosphorus recovery by struvite crystallization
AU - Crutchik, Dafne
AU - Rodrigues, Samuel
AU - Ruddle, David
AU - Garrido, Juan Manuel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
PY - 2018/4
Y1 - 2018/4
N2 - Background: The development of a cost-effective process of struvite crystallization requires the selection of appropriate sources of alkali and magnesium. In this study, the effectiveness of two industrial grade products, MgO and Mg(OH)2, as magnesium and alkali sources to recover phosphorus as struvite were investigated and compared in a first set of experiments. Subsequently, the use of industrial Mg(OH)2 was compared in two different struvite crystallization systems, an upflow fluidized bed reactor (FBR) and a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) coupled to a settler tank. Results: At the same operational conditions, the consumption of MgO was higher than Mg(OH)2 consumption. Moreover, industrial Mg(OH)2 consumption for FBR and the CSTR operation was 1.6 and 1.1 1 mol Mg added mol-1 P precipitated, respectively. This difference was caused by the high mixing intensity and the higher contact time between the Mg(OH)2 slurry and the influent in the CSTR, favouring the conversion. Conclusions: Both industrial grade magnesium products are promising options for struvite crystallization. However, Mg(OH)2 was more effective than the starting material, MgO, to recover phosphorus. Struvite crystallization by adding an industrial grade Mg(OH)2 could be economically viable with regard to alternative physico-chemical P removal processes using metal salts, increasing the attractiveness of this P recovery process.
AB - Background: The development of a cost-effective process of struvite crystallization requires the selection of appropriate sources of alkali and magnesium. In this study, the effectiveness of two industrial grade products, MgO and Mg(OH)2, as magnesium and alkali sources to recover phosphorus as struvite were investigated and compared in a first set of experiments. Subsequently, the use of industrial Mg(OH)2 was compared in two different struvite crystallization systems, an upflow fluidized bed reactor (FBR) and a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) coupled to a settler tank. Results: At the same operational conditions, the consumption of MgO was higher than Mg(OH)2 consumption. Moreover, industrial Mg(OH)2 consumption for FBR and the CSTR operation was 1.6 and 1.1 1 mol Mg added mol-1 P precipitated, respectively. This difference was caused by the high mixing intensity and the higher contact time between the Mg(OH)2 slurry and the influent in the CSTR, favouring the conversion. Conclusions: Both industrial grade magnesium products are promising options for struvite crystallization. However, Mg(OH)2 was more effective than the starting material, MgO, to recover phosphorus. Struvite crystallization by adding an industrial grade Mg(OH)2 could be economically viable with regard to alternative physico-chemical P removal processes using metal salts, increasing the attractiveness of this P recovery process.
KW - continuous stirred tank reactor
KW - fluidized bed reactor
KW - industrial magnesium hydroxide
KW - phosphorus recovery
KW - struvite
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85034582694&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/jctb.5453
DO - 10.1002/jctb.5453
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85034582694
SN - 0268-2575
VL - 93
SP - 1012
EP - 1021
JO - Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology
JF - Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology
IS - 4
ER -