The Effects of Magnesium and Ammonium Additions on Phosphate Recovery from Greenhouse Wastewater

Abstract

Phosphorus recovery from greenhouse wastewater, using precipitation-crystallization, was conducted under three levels of calcium concentration, 304 mg/L (7.6 mmol/L), 384 mg/L (9.6 mmol/L), and 480 mg/L (12 mmol/L), and also with additions of ammonium and magnesium into the wastewater. Jar test results confirmed high phosphate removal, with more than 90% of the removal achieved with a pH as low as 7.7. Under the low calcium concentration, ammonium addition affected the chemical reactions at pH lower than 8.0, where struvite was produced; when the pH was raised to 8.8, other calcium compounds dominated the precipitation. Under the medium calcium concentration, ammonium and magnesium addition helped struvite precipitation in the low pH range. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) was the main product. Under the high calcium concentration, ammonium addition showed no effects on the precipitation.