Phosphorous removal from anaerobically digested municipal sludge centrate by an electrocoagulation reactor using metal (Al, Fe and Al-Fe) scrap anodes

Phosphates are a major cause of eutrophication and growth of algal blooms in surface waters. The current study investigated phosphorus removal from sludge centrate effluent (SCE) of a municipal wastewater plant by packed-bed electrocoagulation (EC) reactor. Distinctively, iron (Fe), aluminum (Al) and Al-Fe hybrid scrap anodes were used. The influence of initial pHi, applied current and packed anode bed density were evaluated. Phosphorous removal efficiency of 99.99 % was obtained at applied current of 0.20A with anode bed densities of 0.18 kg Al/m3 (pHi 5.0) and 0.48 kg Fe/m3(pHi 7.0). Optimum operating costs entailing sludge disposal, chemical, energy and electrode consumption were calculated as 0.379 US $/m3 (6.04 $/kg PO4-P) for Fe scrap, 0.494 US $/m3 (9.46 $/kg PO4-P) for Al scrap and 0.501 US $/m3 (9.59 $/kg PO4-P) for Al-Fe hybrid scraps. Phosphorus removal per electrochemically generated metal was 191.22 mg P/g Al, 104.88 mg P/g Fe, and 61.08 mg P/g (Al + Fe). The molar metal to phosphorus ratio at optimum conditions were calculated as 5.41, 3.97 and 7.65 mol/mole for Al, Fe and Al-Fe, respectively. The key mechanisms for phosphorus removal were metal-phosphorus precipitation and adsorption. Herein, metal scrap anodes have been proved effective for phosphorous removal from SCE. (c) 2021 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Phosphates, major contributors to eutrophication and algal blooms, were successfully removed from sludge centrate effluent using packed-bed electrocoagulation with iron, aluminum, and aluminum-iron hybrid scrap anodes. High phosphorus removal efficiencies were achieved under optimized operating conditions, with corresponding costs calculated for each type of scrap metal. Metal-phosphorus precipitation and adsorption were identified as key mechanisms for phosphorus removal in this study.