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Author Spotlight: Advancing Anaerobic Microbiota Research Using a Novel Respirometry Protocol
Published on: April 26, 2024
Phosphorus recovery as vivianite from waste activated sludge via optimizing iron source and pH value during anaerobic
Jiashun Cao1, Yang Wu1, Jianan Zhao1
1Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
Abstract:
This study presented an innovative method for phosphorus (P) recovery as vivianite from waste activated sludge (WAS) via optimizing iron dosing and pH value during anaerobic fermentation (AF). The optimal conditions for vivianite formation were in the pH range of 6.0-9.0 with initial PO43- >5 mg/L and Fe/P molar ratio of 1.5. Notably, FeCl3 showed advantages over ZVI for the simultaneous release of Fe2+ and PO43- during WAS fermentation, especially in acidic conditions. The FeCl3 dosing at pH 3.0 could contribute to 78.81% Fe2+ release and 85.69% of total PO43- release from WAS. They were ultimately recovered in the form of high-purity vivianite (93.67%). Clostridiaceae (40.25%) was the predominant bacteria in FeCl3-pH3 reactors, which played key roles in inducing dissimilatory iron reduction for Fe2+ formation. Therefore, P recovery as vivianite from WAS fermentation might be a promising and highly valuable approach to relieve the P crisis.
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