Pilot Testing of a High Efficiency Adsorbent System for Phosphorus Removal and Recovery to Meet Ultra-Low Phosphorus Limits

A phosphorus adsorbent process was recently developed using a specifically manufactured phosphorus adsorbent media created from a mixture of metal oxide with ion exchange properties and a polymer manufactured using a new technique. This adsorbent media can remove phosphorus from secondary effluent to low levels and has a breakthrough capacity greater than 4 g P/L of resin at space velocities up to 20 hr-1. An integrated process for tertiary phosphorus removal and recovery with this media has been developed and consists of phosphorus adsorption, phosphorus desorption (i.e. media regeneration) and phosphorus recovery. Pilot testing in Japan has demonstrated the capability to remove ortho-phosphorus down to 0.002 mg-P/L with this process and produce a recovered product with characteristics similar to high-grade phosphate ores currently used for agricultural fertilizers. This paper details the process flow sheet, discusses the phosphorus removal and recovery capabilities, and presents data from pilot testing efforts in Japan.