title: Phosphorus retention in filter materials for wastewater treatment and its subsequent suitability for plant production.
abstract: Constructed sand filter beds are advantageous for the treatment of wastewater in areas with a low population density. Phosphorus-sorbing materials with additional beneficial characteristics may be used instead of sand. This study aimed at determining and comparing phosphorus (P) retention capacities of amorphous and crystalline blast furnace slags, limestone, opoka, Polonite and sand, for filtering domestic wastewater through columns over a period of 67 weeks. The P-enriched filter materials were subsequently tested for their fertilizer effectiveness in a pot experiment where barley was cultivated. Polonite, i.e. calcinated bedrock opoka, was most effective in removing P. This occurred at a relatively high hydraulic conductivity that reduced the risk of clogging. Barley grown in two types of slag, with a grain size of 0.25-4 mm, was most effective in dry matter production followed by Polonite. Fine-grained slags and Polonite were suggested as most suited of the investigated materials to recycle P back to agriculture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, S-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Hylander
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kietlińska
authors.forename: Gunno
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Renman
authors.forename: Gyula
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simán
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000383:Agriculture; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005374:Filtration; D001467:Hordeum / Q000254:growth & development; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis; D010087:Oxides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013997:Time Factors; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D010087:Oxides; C507562:Polonite; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C029019:opoka; D010758:Phosphorus; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D002119:Calcium Carbonate