Robust magnetic vivianite recovery from digested sewage sludge

Evaluating resilience to sludge dry matter and particle size variations

Journal article (2024)

Authors

H.V. Nguyen BT/Environmental Biotechnology - AS , Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology
T. Prot Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology
W. Wijdeveld Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology
L. Korving Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology
A. Iulian Dugulan RST/Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy - AS , RID/TS/Instrumenten groep
A.I. Dugulan RST/Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy - AS , RID/TS/Instrumenten groep
E.H. Brück RST/Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy - AS
A. Haarala EMEA
Mark M.C. van Loosdrecht BT/Environmental Biotechnology - AS
Mark C.M. van Loosdrecht BT/Environmental Biotechnology - AS
Research Group
BT/Environmental Biotechnology (AS) (TU Delft)
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Published Date

2024

Language

English

Faculty

Applied Sciences

Department

BT/Biotechnologie

Research Group

BT/Environmental Biotechnology

Abstract

Phosphorus recovery via vivianite extraction from digested sludge has recently gained considerable interest. The separation of vivianite was demonstrated earlier at the pilot scale, and operational parameters were optimized. In this study, we tested the robustness of this technology by changing the sludge characteristics, such as dry matter, and via that, sludge viscosity, and vivianite particle size. It was proven that the main factor influencing recovery was the concentration of vivianite in the feed. The technology can extract vivianite even when the sludge has higher dry matter (1.8% - 3.3%) and, therefore, higher viscosity. Smaller vivianite sizes (< 10 µm) can still be recovered but at a lower rate. This made magnetic separation applicable to a wide range of wastewater treatment plants.