Precipitation of struvite (MgNH 4 PO 4 •6H 2 O) from wastewater is a promising method for recycling phosphorous, which results in a slow-release fertilizer and improves wastewater treatment costs. While chemical struvite precipitation is commercialized, electrochemical precipitation can improve the process from an energy and materials standpoint. However, new methods are needed to increase electrochemical recovery at pH values near typical wastewater conditions (6−9). Here, a surface-bound amelogenin peptide was explored in a model electrochemical system to control struvite growth at neutral pH. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the peptide enables favorable Mg 2+ conformations, which facilitate struvite crystallization. Chronoamperometric studies conducted with a range of immobilized peptides in synthetic wastewater at pH 7.1 produced precipitates characterized as struvite. Peptides loaded onto a gold mesh at a concentration of 19 μg mL −1 led to a 21% increase in struvite precipitation. Longer crystals formed in the presence of surface-bound peptide compared to when no peptide was present, showing that dendritic crystal growth can be achieved at neutral pH. The peptide does not appear to bind to struvite, maintaining struvite purity. Our findings show the viability of electrochemical struvite precipitation for relevant wastewater pH values and highlights how peptides can modulate crystal growth.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.