Optimization of a dual-chamber electrolytic reactor with a magnesium anode and characterization of struvite produced from synthetic wastewater

Diminishing phosphorus resources worldwide requires developing new technologies to recover phosphorus (P) from wastewaters. A lab-scale electrolytic reactor with a magnesium anode was investigated to remove NH4+ and PO43- from synthetic wastewater by producing struvite. The effects of mixing speed, pH, and applied current on struvite yield, NH4+, and PO43- removal efficiencies were first evaluated using a factorial design. Then, the two most significant parameters were further optimized using Central Composite Design (CCD) coupled with Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The struvite was characterized by SEM, XRD, and FT-IR. A 5.7-fold increase in struvite yield was achieved by increasing the applied current from 0.1 to 0.5 A. The three regression equations generated by the CCD/RSM design with applied current and mixing speed as the two independent parameters were highly correlated with the response variables (struvite yield, NH4+ and PO43- removal efficiencies). The desirability analysis showed the best operating condition: current, 0.5 A and mixing speed, 414 rpm, for the reactor system, under which the optimal struvite yield and NH4+ and PO43- removal efficiencies were 4.75 g/L, 93.0%, and 58.4%, respectively. The SEM, XRD, and FT-IR analyses confirmed the high purity and quality of the struvite produced by the electrolytic reactor system.

Nutrients Recovery from Dairy Wastewater by Struvite Precipitation Combined with Ammonium Sorption on Clinoptilolite

Struvite precipitation from Wastewater involves an excess of ammonium to create a supersaturated initial solution. The remaining fraction can be a threat to the environment. This work combined struvite precipitation and ammonium sorption using natural zeolite to decrease the ammonium level in the effluent. Two approaches of estimation of feed sample doses were used. One consisted of gradient experiments for ammonium precipitation to the asymptotic level and was combined with clinoptilolite to lower the ammonium level in the effluent. This approach used doses of 0.05:1.51:0.61:1 of Ca:Mg:NH₄⁺:PO₄³⁻ mole ratios, respectively. In contrast, three level design with narrowed NH₄⁺:PO₄³⁻ range reached 0.25:1.51:0.8:1 for Ca:Mg:NH₄⁺:PO₄³⁻ mole ratios. The addition of zeolite decreased effluent ammonium concentration. In both ways, the P and N recoveries were higher than 94% and 72%, respectively. The complexity of the precipitation mixture decreased the ammonium sorption capacity (Q_e) of clinoptilolite from Q_e of 0.52 to 0.10 meq∙g⁻¹ in single and complex solutions, respectively. Thermodynamically, the addition of 1.5 % of clinoptilolite changed the struvite precipitation spontaneity from ∆G of −5.87 to −5.42 kJ·mol⁻¹ and from 9.66 to 9.56 kJ·mol⁻¹ for gradient and three level experimental procedures, respectively. Thus, clinoptilolite demonstrated a positive effect on the struvite precipitation process and its environmental impact.

Improving Life Cycle Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Animal Manure Management in Marginalized Farming Communities Through Resource Recovery

A growing world population with increasing levels of food consumption will lead to more dairy and swine production and increasing amount of manure that requires treatment. Discharge of excessive nutrients and carbon in untreated animal manure can lead to greenhouse gas emissions and eutrophication concerns, and treatment efforts can be expensive for small scale farmers in marginalized communities. The overall goal of this study was to determine the environmental and economic sustainability of four animal manure management scenarios in Costa Rica: (1) no treatment, (2) biodigesters, (3) biodigesters and struvite precipitation, and (4) biodigesters, struvite precipitation, and lagoons. Life cycle assessment was used to assess the carbon footprint and eutrophication potential, whereas life cycle cost analysis was used to evaluate the equivalent uniform annual worth over the construction and operation and maintenance life stages. Recovery of biogas as a cooking fuel and recovery of nutrients from the struvite reactor reduced the carbon footprint, leading to carbon offsets of up to 2,500 kg CO₂ eq/year. Offsets were primarily due to avoiding methane emissions during energy recovery. Eutrophication potential decreased as resource recovery processes were integrated, primarily due to improved removal of phosphorus in effluent waters. Resource recovery efforts led to equivalent uniform annual benefits of $825 to $1,056/year, which could provide a helpful revenue source for lower-income farmers. This research can provide clarity on how small-scale farmers in marginalized settings can utilize resource recovery technologies to better manage animal manure, while improving economic and environmental sustainability outcomes.

Inhibition of ammonia on anaerobic digestion of synthetic coal gasification wastewater and recovery using struvite precipitation

Coal gasification wastewater (CGW) contains very high concentrations of phenols and ammonia. However, the potential impact of ammonia on the anaerobic digestion of phenols remained unclear. Firstly, the methanogens and phenols degraders had a good tolerance up to 1gL^-1 of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), but the substrate utilization rate for phenol, and specific methanogenic activity of sludge were decreased by 89% and 67% at 5g TAN L^-1, and 94% and 100% at 10g TAN L^-1, respectively. Secondly, the optimum struvite crystallization conditions (pH=8.5, 10g TAN L^-1, n(Mg²⁺):n(TAN):n(PO₄^3-)=1:1:1) were obtained by the orthogonal tests. Thirdly, the removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and phenols were recovered to around 82% and 66%, respectively in the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor using the pretreatment of struvite precipitation at 10g TAN L^-1 and 1g phenols L^-1. Therefore, anaerobic digestion coupled with struvite precipitation was considered as an alternative way for CGW treatment.