Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
Published on: January 22, 2015
Sequential struvite precipitation and biological processes for effective removal of ammonium nitrogen from latex
Santheraleka Ramanathan1,2, Yee-Sern Ng3,4, Jian See1
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Abstract:
Removal of ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) from real latex concentrate wastewater using struvite precipitation was investigated. The effect of two operational factors, namely pH and molar ratios for Mg2+:NH4+ and PO43-:NH4+, on struvite formation was investigated. The results revealed that external dosages of Mg2+ and PO43- were required to induce struvite precipitation. Highest NH4+-N removal of 81.7% can be achieved at an optimum pH of 9.5 and Mg2+:NH4+:PO43- molar ratios of 1.4:1:1.4. However, struvite precipitation also showed insignificant chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. Thereby, an investigation on the incorporation of biological treatment with struvite precipitation in a sequential operation was conducted. The results showed that overall removal efficiencies of 93.1% for COD and 95.8% for NH4+-N were achieved in the sequence of biological treatment - struvite precipitation. This study indicates that the combination of biological methods and struvite precipitation is a feasible treatment option to remove both COD and NH4+ from latex concentrate wastewater.
Related Concept Videos
Factors Affecting Solubility
Biological Treatment of Effluent and Waste Water
Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium
Comparative Excretory Systems
Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Washing, Drying, and Ignition of Precipitates

