Innovative solutions for phosphorus removal in municipal wastewater: primary and post-treatment approaches
2025
Grabuza, Dagnija | Grinberga, Linda | Ozola-Davidane, , Ruta | Karasa, Julija
Excess phosphorus (P) in wastewater contributes to eutrophication, highlighting the need for efficient removal technologies across both decentralized and centralized wastewater treatment systems. This study evaluates two filtration-based approaches utilizing mineral-based sorbents for enhanced P removal. In decentralized settings, a prototype system integrating lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) was tested for primary treatment of domestic wastewater. In parallel, Polonite®, a calcium-rich sorbent, was applied as a post-treatment solution for municipal effluents in centralized facilities. Both systems were implemented and monitored under real-world operational conditions in Latvia. LECA demonstrated limited and inconsistent P removal efficiency (9-27%), indicating insufficient performance as a standalone filter. While Polonite® achieved consistent removal efficiencies ranging from 63% to 99%, with final effluent concentrations consistently below Latvia’s regulatory limit of 2 mg P·L-¹. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed morphological changes on Polonite® surfaces after filtration, confirming adsorption and precipitation of P-containing compounds. The findings highlight Polonite® as an effective and reliable material for post-treatment polishing in centralized wastewater systems, while LECA may serve only as a preliminary filter in decentralized applications.
اظهر المزيد [+] اقل [-]الكلمات المفتاحية الخاصة بالمكنز الزراعي (أجروفوك)
المعلومات البيبليوغرافية
الناشر Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies