Abstract
The physico-chemical process of struvite precipitation is a technique that demonstrates a high potential in nutrients recovery from different kinds of wastewaters. This study aimed to evaluate the use of a low cost industrial compound with high magnesia content as alternative reagent source of magnesium ions and alkalinity required for precipitation. It was a strategy to turn the process economically viable and reduce the chemical costs. Mg(OH)2 slurries were obtained and evaluated regarding the nutrients recovery from a synthetic wastewater rich in NH4+-N and PO43-P and the quality of the generated crystals with the identification of the mineral of interest – the struvite. The experiment was performed in laboratory scale using a conic fluidized bed reactor in a semi-continuous operation. The proper pH control (8.0–8.5) by the automated addition of Mg(OH)2 slurry allowed considerable PO43-P removal equal to 93.5%. The recovered solids from the process showed purity of approximately 84% of struvite.
Translated title of the contribution | Chemical precipitation of struvite: Nutrients recovery in conic fluidized bed reactor using a low-cost industrial magnesia compound |
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Original language | Portuguese |
Pages (from-to) | 259-268 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Engenharia Sanitaria e Ambiental |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Apr 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Chemical precipitation
- Conic fluidized bed reactor
- Industrial magnesia compound
- Low-cost reagent
- Nutrients recovery
- Struvite