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Influence of pH and Temperature on Struvite Purity and Recovery from Anaerobic Digestate

Author

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  • Carolina González-Morales

    (Grupo GAIA, Escuela Ambiental, Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin 050010, Colombia
    BioResource Systems Research Group, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

  • Belén Fernández

    (IRTA–GIRO Program, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology, 08001 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Francisco J. Molina

    (Grupo GAIA, Escuela Ambiental, Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin 050010, Colombia)

  • Darío Naranjo-Fernández

    (Grupo GAIA, Escuela Ambiental, Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin 050010, Colombia)

  • Adriana Matamoros-Veloza

    (Institute of Functional Surfaces, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

  • Miller Alonso Camargo-Valero

    (BioResource Systems Research Group, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

Abstract

The precipitation of struvite (MgNH 4 PO 4 .6H 2 O) from wastewater streams simultaneosuly recovers nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) for reuse as fertilisers. Struvite crystallisation is controlled by pH, saturation index, temperature and other ions in the solution (e.g., Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ and CO 3 2− ). This work studies the effect of pH and temperature on phosphorus and nitrogen removal via struvite precipitation and the quality of the resulting precipitate product (i.e., crystal size, morphology and purity). Struvite was precipitated in batch reactors from the supernatant produced during anaerobic sludge dewatering at a wastewater treatment works, under controlled pH (8, 9 and 10) and temperature (25, 33 and 40 °C) conditions. The optimal P removal as struvite, reduction of the co-precipitation with Ca and the increase in particle size of the struvite precipitates were determined. The results showed that temperatures of 33 °C and 40 °C are not recommended for struvite precipitation—i.e., at 33 °C the purity is lower, and at 40 °C the ammonia losses are induced by volatilisation. At all pH-tests, the P removal efficiency was >93%, but the highest phosphate content and purity as struvite were obtained at a pH of 9.0. The optimum pH and temperature for the formation of large crystals (84 µm) and a high purity (>70%) of the struvite precipitates were 9 and 25 °C, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Carolina González-Morales & Belén Fernández & Francisco J. Molina & Darío Naranjo-Fernández & Adriana Matamoros-Veloza & Miller Alonso Camargo-Valero, 2021. "Influence of pH and Temperature on Struvite Purity and Recovery from Anaerobic Digestate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:19:p:10730-:d:644236
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alessio Siciliano & Carlo Limonti & Giulia Maria Curcio & Raffaele Molinari, 2020. "Advances in Struvite Precipitation Technologies for Nutrients Removal and Recovery from Aqueous Waste and Wastewater," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-35, September.
    2. John F. Hallas & Cheryl L. Mackowiak & Ann C. Wilkie & Willie G. Harris, 2019. "Struvite Phosphorus Recovery from Aerobically Digested Municipal Wastewater," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-12, January.
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    1. Naga Sai Tejaswi Uppuluri & Konstantin Dinkler & Xueling Ran & Jianbin Guo & Joachim Müller & Hans Oechsner, 2023. "Effect of Reactive and Non-Reactive Additive Treatment on the Recovery of Phosphorus from Biogas Digestate," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Işık Kabdaşlı & Alessio Siciliano & Carlo Limonti & Olcay Tünay, 2022. "Is K-Struvite Precipitation a Plausible Nutrient Recovery Method from Potassium-Containing Wastes?—A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-35, September.
    3. Eliza Kulbat & Krzysztof Czerwionka, 2023. "Influence of Phosphorus Speciation on Its Chemical Removal from Reject Water from Dewatering of Municipal Sewage Sludge," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-12, January.

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