A new phosphate-selective sorbent for the Rem Nut process. Laboratory investigation and field experience at a medium size wastewater treatment plant.
P-control technologies for municipal wastewater are essentially based on "destructive" methods, that lead to formation of concentrated solid-phases (sludge), usually disposed-off in controlled landfills. Ion exchange, as a "non-destructive" technology, allows for selective removal and simultaneous recovery of pollutants, which can be recycled to the same and/or related productive lines. In this context, the REM NUT process removes nutrient species (HPO4 = , NH4+, K+) present in biologically oxidised municipal effluents and recovers them in the form of struvites (MgNH4PO4; MgKPO4), premium quality slow release fertilisers. The main limitation to the extensive application of this ion exchange based process is the non-availability of selective exchangers for specific removal of nutrient species. This paper illustrates laboratory investigation and pilot scale development of a so-called "P-driven" modified REM NUT scheme based on a new phosphate-selective sorbent developed at Lehigh University, PA, USA.
Petruzzelli
D
D
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, II Faculty of Engineering, The Polytechnic University of Bari, 8, Viale del Turismo, 74100 Taranto, Italy.
De Florio
L
L
Dell'Erba
A
A
Liberti
L
L
Notarnicola
M
M
Sengupta
A K
AK
D000327:Adsorption; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D005308:Fertilizers; D017616:Magnesium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D000069877:Struvite; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
D005308:Fertilizers; D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D010710:Phosphates; D012722:Sewage; D010758:Phosphorus; D000069877:Struvite