Struvite recovery from solution containing phosphate(V) and sulphate(VI) ions

The research results concerning the application of magnesium and ammonium ions for continuous removal of phosphate(V) ions from solution containing 1.0 or 0.20 mass% of PO43– and from 0.10 to 0.50 mass% of SO42– are presented. A continuous struvite MgNH4PO4 × 6H2O reaction crystallization process was carried out both under stoichiometric conditions and using 20% excess of magnesium ions. The research was conducted in a DT MSMPR type crystallizer with internal circulation of suspension driven by a propeller stirrer, in constant temperature 298 K. The pH varied from 9 to 11 and mean residence time of suspension in a crystallizer τ varied from 900 to 3600 s. It was concluded, that sulphate(VI) ions influenced product quality disadvantageously. Depending on process parameter combinations struvite crystals of mean size from ca. 18 to ca. 44 μm and of moderate homogeneity: CV 7–95% were produced. Presence of sulphate(VI) ions favored crystallization of struvite as prismatic crystals, but tubular forms were also identified. The best shaped struvite crystals were produced at relatively low concentration of sulphate(VI) ions, pH 9 and for mean residence time of suspension in a crystallizer elongated up to 3600 s.

Reaction crystallization of struvite in a continuous DTM type crystallizer with a compressed air driven jet pump

Reaction crystallization of struvite in a continuous DTM type crystallizer with a compressed air driven jet pump Experimental tests covering the production of struvite MgNH4PO4·6H2O from water solutions containing 1.0 mass % of phosphate(V) ions using magnesium and ammonium ions in stoichiometric proportions were carried out in a crystallizer of 1.2 dm3 working volume. The process temperature was 298 K. Struvite crystals of mean size Lm from ca. 14 to ca. 38 μm were produced depending on the process environment's pH (9-11) and the mean residence time of suspension in a crystallizer, τ (900-3600 s). In such defined process conditions the linear growth rate of struvite crystals changed from 1.45·10-8 m/s (pH 9, τ 900 s) to 2.06·10-9 m/s (pH 11, τ 3600 s) while the nucleation rate from 5.1·107 to 3.2·109 1/(sm3). Crystal product of the most advantageous granular characteristics was produced at pH 9 and the mean residence time 3600 s. Within this product population the largest sizes reached above 200 μm while the number of crystals smaller than 3 mm was kept below 6%.