Testing of reactive materials for phosphorus removal from water and wastewater – comparative study

Abstract

Testing of reactive materials for phosphorus removal from water and wastewater - comparative study. Excess of phosphorus in surface water is a global problem. Phosphorus found in rivers, streams, agricultural ditches and lakes comes from both point and diffuse sources. To keep water bodies in a good ecological status it is necessary to manage it a at local level. One of the possible solutions is to use reactive materials in wastewater treatment plants as well as in case of diffuse sources of pollution to implement it in water bodies transporting pollutants from small catchments. This paper presents results of research made over the period of 6 years (2008-2013) in the Department of Environmental Improvement and Water Center WULS-SGGW. Seventeen different materials available in Poland and in other parts of the world were tested as potential reactive materials for phosphorus. The most effective P-sorption reactive materials are: Polonite®, shell sand, AAC, Pollytag and limestone with the apparent sorption capacities of: 94.32, 48.39, 43.17, 28.95, and 11.12 mg/g respectively.