ABSTRACT
Seed induces and promotes the crystallization of calcium phosphate, and acts as carrier of the recovered phosphorus (P). In order to select suitable seed for P recovery from wastewater, three seeds including Apatite (AP), Juraperle (JP) and phosphate-modified Juraperle (M-JP) were tested and compared. Batch and fixed-bed column experiments of seeded crystallization of calcium phosphate were undertaken by using synthetic wastewater with 10 mgP/L. It showed that AP had bad enduring property in the crystallization process, while JP had better performance for multiple uses, and M-JP was a hopeful seed for P recovery by crystallization of calcium phosphate.
Subject(s)
Calcium Phosphates/chemistry , Phosphorus/chemistry , Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry , Conservation of Natural Resources/methods , Crystallization , Waste Disposal, FluidABSTRACT
For phosphorus recovery from wastewater, the present paper aims at understanding the crystallization of calcium phosphate by using calcites (Juraperle and Coccolith) as seeds from hard water. Synthetic hard water with 60 mgCl(-1) carbonate and 10 mgPl(-1) phosphate was prepared and used in the batch experiments of calcite-seeded crystallization. The solution composition was measured throughout the batch crystallization process, and the corresponding saturation indices with respect to the minerals were calculated with PHREEQC Program. The surface of the calcite seeds was observed and measured with environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and BET method. The studies show that both calcites are effective seeds for the crystallization of calcium phosphate from hard water; the used calcites are more efficient than the original ones because newly formed crystals with calcium phosphate have covered their surfaces. The studies show that the calcite seeds can be used for phosphorus recovery from hard waters.
