Phosphate Fixation and P Mineralogy on Natural and Ca-Modified Zeolites During Simultaneous Nutrient Removal

Publikationen: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschung(peer-reviewed)

Abstract

The recovery and recycling of nutrients (N&P) from wastewater are one of the major topics to save primary energy and resources, to raise the efficiency of wastewater treatment plants, and to foster a future circular economy. In the present study, the removal of ammonium (NH 4 +) and phosphate (PO 4 3−) using natural and Ca-treated zeolite is investigated in detail. Special emphasis is put on the simultaneous removal of both species from model solutions followed by elaborate mineralogical analyses (XRD, EPMA, FEG-SEM) for zeolite characterization and in order to determine the type, structure, and crystal sizes of CaP-phases precipitating on the zeolites surface. The effectivity of the phosphate segregation and chemical composition and the crystalline structure of the CaP-phase precipitating on the surface of the zeolite depend on the physico chemical conditions in particular on pH, molar ratio of Ca and P (due to zeolite modification), and the presence of NH 4 +. Results of simultaneous removal experiments of N&P revealed that Ca pretreatment enhances P segregation and increases the obtainable P-loadings of Ca–zeolites. Maximum P-loadings of 25 mg g −1 Ca–zeolite in binary solutions containing both ammonium and phosphate were obtained. Simultaneous phosphate removal by surface precipitation of CaP-phases does not significantly influence ammonium ion exchange and the type of CaP-precipitates formed on the zeolite surface is assumed to be mainly brushite and apatite.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer41
Seitenumfang13
FachzeitschriftWater, air, and soil pollution
Jahrgang233.2022
Ausgabenummer2
DOIs
StatusVeröffentlicht - 25 Jan. 2022