Auto-nucleation and crystal growth of struvite in a demonstrative fluidized bed reactor (FBR)

Environ Technol. 2005 Sep;26(9):975-82. doi: 10.1080/09593332608618486.

Abstract

The experience of P removal by auto-nucleation and crystal growth of struvite (MAP) in a demonstrative plant is proposed. The demonstrative plant is located in a municipal wastewater treatment plant in northern Italy. The trials are a consequence of previous experimentation carried out using silica sand as seed material. Working in metastable conditions the auto-nucleation process is performed, and allows the control of the precipitation and the growth of MAP inside the FBR reactor. No scaling problems are observed in the collecting pipes. After the treatment of 650m3 of anaerobic supernatants, 0.28 tons of granulated crystalline MAP are produced. The chemical analysis shows its possible use in agriculture as fertilizer. Operative costs analysis confirms the SCP as a cheap way to remove and recover P from anaerobic supernatants.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Anaerobiosis
  • Bioreactors*
  • Chemical Precipitation
  • Crystallization
  • Equipment Design
  • Magnesium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Magnesium Compounds / metabolism
  • Phosphates / chemistry*
  • Phosphorus / isolation & purification*
  • Potassium / metabolism
  • Struvite
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
  • Water Purification / methods

Substances

  • Magnesium Compounds
  • Phosphates
  • Phosphorus
  • Struvite
  • Potassium