Optimization of phosphate recovery as struvite from synthetic distillery wastewater using a chemical equilibrium
Soni Kumari1, Sanoj Jose1, Sheeja Jagadevan2
1Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand, 826004, India.
Abstract:
This study investigates the feasibility of recovery of phosphorus via struvite precipitation from a synthetic anaerobically treated distillery spent wash by optimizing the process using a chemical equilibrium model, namely Visual MINTEQ. Process parameters such as Mg2+, [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] ion concentrations and pH were used as inputs into the model. Increasing the molar ratio of [Formula: see text] from 0.8:1 to 1.6:1 at pH 9 led to an increase in phosphate recovery from 88.2 to 99.5%. The model and experimental results were in good agreement in terms of phosphate recovery, indicating that the Visual MINTEQ model can be used to pre-determine the process parameters for struvite synthesis. Increasing the concentration of calcium ion adversely affected the synthesis and purity of struvite, whereas the presence of melanoidins had no significant impact. This study demonstrates that phosphorus recovery through struvite precipitation is a sustainable approach to reclaim phosphorus from high-strength industrial wastewater.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Dynamic Equilibrium
Chemical Equilibria: Redefining Equilibrium Constant
To calculate the equilibrium constants of solutions of moderately high ionic strength, one must account for the salt effect. This redefined...
Chemical Equilibria: Systematic Approach to Equilibrium Calculations
The first step is to identify all the chemical reactions involved, The...
Free Energy and Equilibrium
Recall that Q is the numerical value of the mass action...
Calculating the Equilibrium Constant
For example, gaseous nitrogen dioxide forms dinitrogen tetroxide according to this equation:
Solution Equilibrium and Saturation


