Holistic Approach to Phosphorus Recovery from Urban Wastewater: Enhanced Biological Removal Combined with Precipitation

Maria Concetta Tomei, Valentina Stazi, Saba Daneshgar and Andrea G. Capodaglio
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Maria Concetta Tomei: Water Research Institute, CNR, 00015 Roma, Italy
Valentina Stazi: Water Research Institute, CNR, 00015 Roma, Italy
Saba Daneshgar: Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Andrea G. Capodaglio: Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: Combined phosphorus (P) removal and recovery from wastewater is a sensible and sustainable choice in view of potential future P-resource scarcity, due to dwindling primary global reserves. P-recovery from wastewater, notwithstanding the relatively small fraction of total global amounts involved (less than 1/5 of total global use ends up in wastewater) could extend the lifespan of available reserves and improve wastewater cycle sustainability. The recovery of the resource, rather than its mere removal as ferric or aluminum salt, will still allow to achieve protection of receiving waters quality, while saving on P-sludge disposal costs. To demonstrate the possibility of such a recovery, a strategy combining enhanced biological phosphorus removal and mineral P-precipitation was studied, by considering possible process modifications of a large treatment facility. Process simulation, a pilot study, and precipitation tests were conducted. The results demonstrated that it would be possible to convert this facility from chemical -precipitation to its biological removal followed by mineral precipitation, with minimal structural intervention. Considerable P-recovery could be obtained, either in form of struvite or, more sustainably, as calcium phosphate, a mineral that also has possible fertilizing applications. The latter would present a cost about one order of magnitude lower than the former.

Keywords: nutrients; phosphorus; wastewater; bio-P process; modeling; P-recovery; precipitation; struvite; calcium sulphate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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