Tabanpour, Menachem

Mr. Tabanpour is the president of Nutrient Recovery and Upcycling (NRU). During his tenure, he has led the development and commercialization of the CalPrex phosphorus recovery technology at NRU and at Centrisys-CNP. Mr. Tabanpour 's experience and knowledge related to nutrient recovery technologies goes back to 2002, when he began research on controlled struvite crystallization at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since then he has worked on numerous projects related to nutrient upcycling, and is leading the development of phosphorus and nitrogen recovery technologies at NRU.

Titles from this speaker

Demonstrating the CalPrex System for High-Efficiency Phosphorus Recovery

Abstract

Sustainable phosphorus management is needed on local, national and global scales to help ensure global food security and the mitigation of eutrophication caused by point and non-point sources of nutrient loading. This challenge can be met in part with increased availability and adoption of cost-effective technologies that significantly reduce or remove phosphorus from treated water and sludge at water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). The precipitation and capture of the struvite mineral (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) has become the most widely adopted solution to concentrate phosphorus in WRRF streams as a recoverable mineral to date, with expected total phosphorus removal of around 15-25% in most systems. Yet, persistent struvite precipitation within these systems, and increasingly stringent regulatory requirements on nutrient loading in effluents, require more efficient technologies for phosphorus extraction. This report summarizes the results of the CalPrex® phosphorus recovery pilot and the implications for full-scale implementation. CalPrex is a patented calcium-based phosphorus recovery technology yielding high-rate phosphorus extraction by using a process influent of thickened fermented sludge or acid digest. This increases the amounts of soluble and reactive species of phosphorus to approximately 65% of the total phosphorus and allows CalPrex to recover a higher percentage of the phosphorus, as a mineral called brushite (CaHPO4·2H2O). As part of this Water Research Foundation (WRF) study, the CalPrex system operated as an 8-12 gallon per minute pilot unit at the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District’s Nine Springs Facility in Madison, Wisconsin throughout the year of 2018. Results from collected data demonstrate the average total phosphorus removal by CalPrex was 46.7-49.9%, and soluble phosphorus removal in the reactor was up to 90.6-93.1%. Detailed mass balance results are presented, as well as cost-benefit analyses of potential full-scale CalPrex installations at WRF project participating WRRFs. Additional impacts for WRRF biosolids and for brushite fertilizer production are also addressed.

Water resources recovery facilities (WRRF) present opportunities for phosphorus recovery. CalPrex®, a brushite based, phosphorus recovery technology, was demonstrated throughout 2018 with the Water Research Foundation (WRF) to validate the scalability, benefits, and brushite fertilizer. The objectives were: 1. Quantify the performance in Madison, Wisconsin; 2. Quantify the costs and benefits; 3. Quantify the performance at participating WRRF biosolids; 4. Report on progress of WRRF derived brushite. The 2021 WRF report shows that 49% of the total phosphorus was recovered. Biowin and cost/benefit modelling, as well as a fertilizer assessment demonstrate the value of CalPrex for high-rate phosphorus recovery.

SpeakerTabanpour, Menachem

Presentation time

16:40:00

16:55:00

Session time

16:00:00

17:30:00

SessionTechnology Advancement in Sidestream Phosphorus Recovery

Session number113

TopicBiosolids and Residuals, Facility Operations and Maintenance, Nutrients

Author(s)

Menachem Tabanpour