Increasing Revenue While Reducing Nuisance Struvite Precipitation: Pilot Scale Testing of the WASSTRIP Process

Schauer, Peter; Baur, Rob; Barnard, James C.; Britton, Ahren

doi:10.2175/193864711802867423

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…However, controlled struvite precipitation can be triggered in specialised reactors by manipulation of the sludge digestion process to overcome these problems (Baur 2009 ). This can produce struvite granules that are useable as a magnesium ammonium phosphate fertiliser product for agriculture, whilst also reducing plant effluent P concentrations discharged to watercourses (Baur 2009 ; Schauer et al 2011 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Struvite: a slow-release fertiliser for sustainable phosphorus management?

Talboys¹,

et al. 2015

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Background and aimRecycled sources of phosphorus (P), such as struvite extracted from wastewater, have potential to substitute for more soluble manufactured fertilisers and help reduce the long-term threat to food security from dwindling finite reserves of phosphate rock (PR). This study aimed to determine whether struvite could be a component of a sustainable P fertiliser management strategy for arable crops.MethodsA combination of laboratory experiments, pot trials and mathematical modelling of the root system examined the P release properties of commercial fertiliser-grade struvite and patterns of P uptake from a low-P sandy soil by two different crop types, in comparison to more soluble inorganic P fertilisers (di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and triple super phosphate (TSP)).ResultsStruvite had greatly enhanced solubility in the presence of organic acid anions; buckwheat, which exudes a high level of organic acids, was more effective at mobilising struvite P than the low level exuder, spring wheat. Struvite granules placed with the seed did not provide the same rate of P supply as placed DAP granules for early growth of spring wheat, but gave equivalent rates of P uptake, yield and apparent fertiliser recovery at harvest, even though only 26 % of struvite granules completely dissolved. Fertiliser mixes containing struvite and DAP applied to spring wheat have potential to provide both optimal early and late season P uptake and improve overall P use efficiency.ConclusionsWe conclude that the potential resource savings and potential efficiency benefits of utilising a recycled slow release fertiliser like struvite offers a more sustainable alternative to only using conventional, high solubility, PR-based fertilisers.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11104-015-2747-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Struvite: a slow-release fertiliser for sustainable phosphorus management?

Talboys¹,

et al. 2015

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“…From laboratory-and pilotscale tests, phosphate release rates from the process were estimated to be between 25 and 40%. [8][9][10] This configuration may have several beneficial impacts: higher amounts of soluble P and Mg in struvite recovery facility and decrease of these values in AD reactors which enables to prevent the formation of struvite on it and avoid the maintenance operation because of scaling. However, the minimum pH reached by this process was close to 6.5, which is too high to dissolve a significant amount of mineral P salts and to avoid precipitation, of a part of the P biologically released by the PAO with calcium or iron.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phosphorus recycling potential assessment by a biological test applied to wastewater sludge

Braak¹,

Auby²,

Piveteau³

et al. 2016

Environmental Technology

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Phosphorus (P) recycling as mineral fertilizer from wastewater activated sludge (WAS) depends on the amount that can be dissolved and separated from the organic matter before the final crystallization step. The aim of the biological phosphorus dissolution potential (BPDP) test developed here was to assess the maximum amount of P that could be biologically released from WAS prior that the liquid phase enters the recovery process. It was first developed for sludge combining enhanced biological phosphorus removal and iron chloride. Because carbohydrates are known to induce acidification during the first stage of anaerobic digestion, sucrose was used as a co-substrate. Best results were obtained after 24-48 h, without inoculum, with a sugar/sludge ratio of 0.5 gCOD/gVS and under strict anaerobic conditions. Up to 75% of the total phosphorus in sludge from a wastewater treatment plant combining enhanced biological phosphorus removal and iron chloride phosphorus removal could be dissolved. Finally, the test was applied to assess BPDP from different sludge using alum compounds for P removal. No dissolution was observed when alum polychloride was used and less than 20% when alum sulphate was used. In all the cases, comparison to chemical acidification showed that the biological process was a major contributor to P dissolution. The possibility to crystallize struvite was discussed from the composition of the liquids obtained. The BPDP will be used not only to assess the potential for phosphorus recycling from sludge, but also to study the influence of the co-substrates available for anaerobic digestion of sludge.

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“…Struvite (NH 4 MgPO 4 •6H 2 O) is relatively abundant in soils and lakes and can be found naturally formed through a variety of reactions with sources such as bird droppings and fish bones, but also in water treatment plants in form of crystals in wastewater pipes [28,29]. Controlled struvite formation can be carried out in reactors during the sludge digestion process thus forming a magnesium ammonium phosphate fertilizer for its use in agriculture [30]. It is also important to note that the NH 4 + of the struvite composition can be readily replaced by potassium, thus forming MgKPO 4 •6H 2 O (potassium struvite) [31].…”

Section: Struvitementioning

confidence: 99%

Fungi, P-Solubilization, and Plant Nutrition

Mendes

Deriu

Benedetto³

et al. 2022

Microorganisms

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The application of plant beneficial microorganisms is widely accepted as an efficient alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It was shown that annually, mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria are responsible for 5 to 80% of all nitrogen, and up to 75% of P plant acquisition. However, while bacteria are the most studied soil microorganisms and most frequently reported in the scientific literature, the role of fungi is relatively understudied, although they are the primary organic matter decomposers and govern soil carbon and other elements, including P-cycling. Many fungi can solubilize insoluble phosphates or facilitate P-acquisition by plants and, therefore, form an important part of the commercial microbial products, with Aspergillus, Penicillium and Trichoderma being the most efficient. In this paper, the role of fungi in P-solubilization and plant nutrition will be presented with a special emphasis on their production and application. Although this topic has been repeatedly reviewed, some recent views questioned the efficacy of the microbial P-solubilizers in soil. Here, we will try to summarize the proven facts but also discuss further lines of research that may clarify our doubts in this field or open new perspectives on using the microbial and particularly fungal P-solubilizing potential in accordance with the principles of the sustainability and circular economy.

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Increasing Revenue While Reducing Nuisance Struvite Precipitation: Pilot Scale Testing of the WASSTRIP Process

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Struvite: a slow-release fertiliser for sustainable phosphorus management?

Struvite: a slow-release fertiliser for sustainable phosphorus management?

Phosphorus recycling potential assessment by a biological test applied to wastewater sludge

Fungi, P-Solubilization, and Plant Nutrition

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