Cerium as an Efficient Coagulant for Phosphorus Removal from Wastewater

Faisal A. Osra ()
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Faisal A. Osra: Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Architecture, Umm-Alqura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: Excessive nutrient levels, particularly phosphorus, in wastewater have led to severe environmental issues such as eutrophication, necessitating effective treatment methods for nutrient removal. Traditional coagulants like alum (Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 ) are commonly used but often require high dosages and are sensitive to pH, limiting their effectiveness in varying wastewater conditions. Cerium, a rare-earth element, has emerged as a promising alternative coagulant due to its ability to remove nutrients efficiently across a wide pH range. This study investigates the performance of cerium in comparison to alum for phosphorus and organic matter removal. Cerium demonstrates superior performance, achieving up to 98.9% phosphorus removal at a lower dose (1.5 mg-Ce/mg-P) compared to alum (5.0 mg-Al/mg-P) while maintaining stable removal efficiency across both acidic and alkaline conditions. Furthermore, cerium also facilitates moderate organic matter (COD) removal, achieving up to 27.9% COD removal, enhancing overall water treatment performance. The main precipitate formed during the coagulation process is cerium phosphate (CePO 4 , 94% pure), which provides a stable, crystalline structure for nutrient capture. In conclusion, cerium offers a more efficient and cost-effective solution for wastewater treatment, reducing the need for pH adjustment and additional chemical inputs, while achieving higher phosphorus and organic matter removal compared to traditional coagulants.

Keywords: wastewater; coagulation; rare-earth elements; nutrients; organic matter (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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