Recovery of nutrients (N-P-K) from potassium-rich sludge anaerobic digestion side-streams by integration of a hybrid sorption-membrane ultrafiltration process: Use of powder reactive sorbents as nutrient carriers

Here, an alternative nutrient (N-P-K) recovery route from potassium-rich sludge anaerobic digestion side-streams using powder reactive sorbents (PRSs) is presented. In the first step, the optimum PRS system was determined in batch experiments with mixtures of: a) a sodium zeolite (NaP1) to facilitat...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Hermassi, Mehrez|||0000-0001-5338-7139, Valderrama Ángel, César Alberto|||0000-0001-6711-8183, Gibert Agulló, Oriol|||0000-0002-7313-5147, Moreno Palmerola, Natàlia, Querol Carceller, Xavier, Harrouch Batis, Narjes, Cortina Pallás, José Luis|||0000-0002-3719-5118
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2017
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/105553
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/105553
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.140
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Sorbents
Magnesia
Nutrient recovery
Powder reactive sorbents
Na/Ca-zeolite
Caustic magnesia
Hybrid sorption-membrane ultrafiltration
Anaerobic side-stream
Nutrients
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria química
Descripción
Sumario:Here, an alternative nutrient (N-P-K) recovery route from potassium-rich sludge anaerobic digestion side-streams using powder reactive sorbents (PRSs) is presented. In the first step, the optimum PRS system was determined in batch experiments with mixtures of: a) a sodium zeolite (NaP1) to facilitate the NH4+ and K+ sorption; b) a Ca-zeolite (CaP1) to facilitate the removal of P by formation of Ca-phosphates (e.g., CaHPO4(s)), and c) caustic magnesia containing mixtures of MgO to facilitate the formation of Mg/NH4/PO4 minerals (e.g., struvite and magnesium phosphates). Evaluation of the continuous and simultaneous N-P-K removal with mixtures of PRSs was carried out using a hybrid sorption/filtration system with ultrafiltration (UF) hollow-fibre membranes. The dosing ratios of the PRS mixtures were optimised on the basis of the equilibrium and kinetic sorption data, and a PRS dose (< 2–5 g PRS/L) was selected to ensure the hydraulic performance of the system. Under such conditions, and with synthetic anaerobic side-stream removal capacities (qt) of 220 ± 10 mg N-NH4/g, 35 ± 5 mg P-PO4/g, and 8 ± 2 mg K/g, removal efficiencies of 32 ± 3, 78 ± 5, and 26 ± 3% for ammonium, phosphate, and potassium, respectively, were obtained for the binary mixtures of NaP1/CaP1 zeolites. Contrary to the batch results, the use of tertiary mixtures of NaP1/CaP1/MgO only improved the K removal capacity and efficiency to 18 ± 2 mg K/g and 55 ± 4%, respectively, while the phosphate removal capacity and efficiency remained unchanged (ca. 35 ± 3 mg P-PO4/g; 80 ± 5%) and the ammonium capacity and efficiency were reduced to 185 ± 12 mg N-NH4/g and 20 ± 2%, respectively, due to the competing Mg2 + ion effect. Nutrient removal trials with real anaerobic side-streams using binary mixtures of Na/Ca zeolites showed a reduction of both the hydraulic performance and the nutrient removal ratios due to the presence of dissolved organic matter. However, constant removal ratios of N, P, and K were recorded throughout the filtration experiments. The loaded PRSs exhibited suitable nutrient release rates and bioavailability as co-substrates for soil quality improvement. Chemical analyses detected the formation of Ca/P/O and Mg/N/P/O neo-minerals; however, the mineralogical data revealed only the formation of struvite, even when no magnesium oxide was used.