Preliminary results from application Phoslock® to remove phosphorus compounds from wastewater

Abstract

The aim of the study is to assess the removal effectiveness of phosphorus compounds by using lanthanum-modified bentonite. This material was produced by the Australian company Phoslock® Water Solutions Pty Ltd. According to the company, Phoslock® has substantial capacity to bound phosphate anions. The investigation was carried out in steady conditions in laboratory model with beakers. The results of the study are related to the determination of hydraulic load, time of mixing and time of sedimentation. Research with synthetic wastewater was conducted in 4 beakers which were mixing by 5, 10, 20 and 30 minutes respectively. Samples for analyzing were taken from each beaker after 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 24 hours of sedimentation. Studies were conducted to determine the optimal dose of Phoslock® with a known concentration of phosphate anions PO4 3- in artificial wastewater, time of mixing and time of sedimentation. All samples were taken before and after the treatment with Phoslock® and they were analyzed with following parameters: pH, total suspended solids, conductivity, turbidity, color and phosphate concentration. The carried out investigations confirmed high efficiency of phosphate anions PO43- removal (over 95%), and the final concentration as average was 0.1 mg/dm3. The application of Phoslock® for phosphate anions PO4 3- did not change the pH of final effluent.