title: Thermodynamic modeling of ferric phosphate precipitation for phosphorus removal and recovery from wastewater.
abstract: Phosphorus removal and recovery by ferric phosphate (FePO(4) x 2 H(2)O) precipitation has been considered as an effective technology. In the present study, we examined chemical precipitation thermodynamic modeling of the PHREEQC program for phosphorus removal and recovery from wastewater. The objective of this research was to employ thermodynamic modeling to evaluate the effect of solution factors on FePO(4) x 2 H(2)O precipitation. In order to provide comparison, with the evaluation of thermodynamic modeling, the case study of phosphate removal from anaerobic supernatant was studied. The results indicated that the saturation-index (SI) of FePO(4) x 2 H(2)O followed a polynomial function of pH, and the solution pH influenced the ion activities of ferric iron salts and phosphate. The SI of FePO(4) x 2 H(2)O increased with a logarithmic function of Fe(3+):PO(4)(3-) molar ratio (Fe/P) and initial PO(4)(3-) concentration, respectively. Furthermore, the SI of FePO(4) x 2 H(2)O decreased with a logarithmic function of alkalinity and ionic strength, respectively. With an increase in temperature, the SI at pH 6.0 and 9.0 decreased with a linear function, and the SI at pH 4.0 followed a polynomial function. For the case study of phosphate removal from anaerobic supernatant, the phosphate removal trend at different pH and Fe/P was closer to the predictions of thermodynamic modeling. The results indicated that the thermodynamic modeling of FePO(4) x 2 H(2)O precipitation could be utilized to predict the technology parameters for phosphorus removal and recovery.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, Jiangsu, PR China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Hongqiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Zhitao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000517:prevention & control; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D007220:Industrial Waste; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010758:Phosphorus; C035885:ferric phosphate