Is phosphorus recovery from waste water feasible?

  • chair:

    Berg, U. / Knoll G. / Kaschka, E. / Weidler, P. / Nuesch, R. (2007)

  • place:

    Environmental Technology, 28 (2007), 2, 165–172

  • Date: 2007
  • Berg, U. / Knoll G. / Kaschka, E. / Weidler, P. / Nuesch, R. (2007): „Is phosphorus recovery from waste water feasible? “ In: Environmental Technology, 28 (2007), 2, 165–172

Abstract

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Phosphorus (P) recovery from waste water must become a predominant goal of all countries to face the limited resources of this essential nutrient. The induced crystallisation of calcium phosphates straight from the waste water phase applying tobermorite-rich calcium silicate hydrate compounds (CSH) from the construction industry as the trigger material has proved to be a suitable method. Laboratory and semi-technical scale experiments were carried out in fixed bed, stirred reactor and expanded bed mode. P-loads of the crystallisation substrates of up to 13 wt-% total P (P-tot) (30 wt-% P2O5) were achieved.

Recycling options of the generated products, both as substitute for phosphate rock in the phosphate industry and as a new fertiliser in agriculture, were demonstrated. Indicative operating and investment costs were estimated for conversion of conventional waste water treatment plants (WWTP) designed for nutrient removal and P-precipitation with iron and aluminium reagents to the proposed new crystallisation technology for simultaneous P-removal and P-recovery.