Postdigestion Struvite Precipitation Using a Fluidized Bed Reactor
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 126, Issue 4
Abstract
Controlled precipitation of struvite from postdigestion, sludge lagoon supernatant was studied using a pilot scale fluidized bed reactor (FBR). The process effectively and rapidly removed struvite constituents from the supernatant and produced effluent significantly undersaturated for struvite. Recently published information on struvite thermodynamic and kinetic properties was incorporated into the FBR system design and selection of components. Struvite crystals were selected as seed media, which enabled precipitation of nearly pure crystals and allowed nucleation, with its associated lag time, to be bypassed. Mixing energy in the FBR was demonstrated to be sufficient to overcome transport limitations to struvite growth, allowing growth kinetics to be governed by the surface integration rate of constituent ions into the growing crystal lattice structure. Struvite removal was optimized by incorporating pH elevation into the FBR system. Process fluid was circulated in the pH adjustment tank/FBR system, which was configured as a continuous feed stirred-tank reactor. Struvite removal efficiency exceeded 80% in continuous feed experiments where the hydraulic detention time exceeded 1 h.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Battistoni, P., Fava, G., Pavan, P., Musacco, A., and Cecchi, F. (1997). “Phosphate removal in anaerobic liquors by struvite crystallization without addition of chemicals: Preliminary results.” Water Res., 31(11), 2925–2929.
2.
Borgerding, J. (1972). “Phosphate deposits in digestion systems.” J. Water Pollution Control Federations, 44(5), 813–819.
3.
CRC handbook of chemistry and physics, 66th Ed. (1985). CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, B201.
4.
Geankoplis, C. J. ( 1978). Transport Processes and Unit Operations. Allyn and Bacon, Boston, Table 4-3, Appendix A.4.1.
5.
Horenstein, B. K., Hernandez, G. L., Rasberry, G., and Crosse, J. (1990). “Successful dewatering experience at Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant.” Water Sci. Technol., 22(12), 183–191.
6.
Joko, I. (1985). “Phosphorus removal from wastewater by the crystallization method.” Water Sci. Technol., 17, 121–132.
7.
Kaneko, S., and Nakajima, K. (1988). “Phosphorus removal by crystallization using a granular activated magnesia clinker.” J. Water Pollution Control Federation, 60, 1240–1244.
8.
Lachat Instruments. ( 1995). QuickChem 8000 continuum series automated ion analyzer, Lachat, Inc., Milwaukee.
9.
Maekawa, T., Liao, C. M., and Feng, X. D. (1995). “Nitrogen and phosphorus removal for swine wastewater using intermittent aeration batch reactor followed by ammonium crystallization process.” Water Res., 29(12), 2643–2650.
10.
Mamais, D., Pitt, P. A., Cheng, Y. W., Loiacono, J., and Jenkins, D. (1994). “Determination of ferric chloride dose to control struvite precipitation in anaerobic sludge digesters.” Water Envir. Res., 66(7), 912–918.
11.
Mohajit, Bhattarai, K. K., Taiganides, E. P., and Yap, B. C. (1989). “Struvite deposits in pipes and aerators.” Biol. Wastes, 30, 133–147.
12.
Momberg, G. A., and Oellermann, R. A. (1992). “The removal of phosphate by hydroxyapatite and struvite crystallisation in South Africa.” Water Sci. Technol., 26(5-6), 987–996.
13.
Ohlinger, K. N., Young, T. M., and Schroeder, E. D. (1998). “Predicting struvite formation in digestion.” Water Res., 32(12), 3607–3614.
14.
Ohlinger, K. N., Young, T. M., and Schroeder, E. D. (1999). “Kinetics effects on preferential struvite accumulation in wastewater.”J. Envir. Engrg., ASCE, 125(8), 730–737.
15.
Schultze-Rettmer, R. (1991). “The simultaneous chemical precipitation of ammonium and phosphate in the form of magnesium-ammonium-phosphate.” Water Sci. Technol., 23, 659–667.
16.
Snoeyink, V. L., and Jenkins, D. (1980). Water Chemistry, Wiley, New York.
17.
Stumm, W., and Morgan, J. J. (1970). Aquatic Chemistry. Wiley, New York.
18.
Tunay, O., Kabdasli, I., Orhon, D., and Kolcak, S. (1997). “Ammonia removal by magnesium ammonium phosphate precipitation in industrial wastewaters.” Water. Sci. Technol., 36(2-3), 225–228.
19.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (USEPA) ( 1993a). Methods for chemical analysis of water and wastes, Cincinnati.
20.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (USEPA) ( 1993b). Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge, Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, Part 503, Washington, D.C.
21.
van Dijk, J. C. and Braakensiek, H. (1985). “Phosphate removal by crystallization in a fluidized bed.” Water Sci. Technol., 17, 133–142.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 126 • Issue 4 • April 2000
Pages: 361 - 368
History
Received: Jun 14, 1999
Published online: Apr 1, 2000
Published in print: Apr 2000
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.