Phosphorus binding to Filtra P in batch tests.
Recent guidelines from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency recommend stricter regulations for phosphorus (P) reduction in small-scale wastewater treatment, which raises the need for additional and novel treatment steps in small-scale facilities. Following a biological pretreatment, filter systems can be a convenient option. In this study, the P binding capacity of the filter material Filtra P was investigated in batch tests. The batch test method was evaluated with respect to the effects of liquid-to-solid ratio and particle size on P binding capacity. For initial concentrations (c(i)) between 3 and 100 mg L(-1), the P in the solution was completely and rapidly bound to the material, indicating that Filtra P was an efficient substrate for this process. The maximum amount of bound P was 4.3 +/- 0.64 g kg(-1) at c(i) = 300 mg L(-1). The P binding capacity and turbidity measured in the supernatant correlated positively. Turbidity was probably caused by calcium-P precipitates, suggesting precipitation was the major removal mechanism. Neither the liquid-to-solid ratio nor the particle size affected P binding capacity significantly (alpha = 0.05) at c(i) = 1000 mg L(-1), confirming that the conditions used in the batch tests were appropriate. In full-scale applications, the precipitate formed may be at risk of being washed out of the filter, leading to low total P reduction and recovery.
Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87 Luleå, Sweden. Inga.Herrmann@ltu.se
Inga
I
Herrmann
Amir
A
Jourak
T Staffan
TS
Lundström
Annelie
A
Hedström
Maria
M
Viklander
D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D005374:Filtration; D010316:Particle Size; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000737:chemistry*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
D017610:Calcium Compounds; C574101:Filtra P; D010758:Phosphorus