Using Chemical Precipitation to Recover Struvite from Household Wastewater for Agricultural Fertilizer Utilization †

Abstract

Struvite is a substance that can be extracted from wastewater and has the potential to replace conventionally manufactured fertilizers and reduce environmental issues. A slow-release fertilizer can more effectively be used by matching the nutrient requirements of plants through the growing period and gradually supplying N and P for crop growth. Struvite is an ecologically friendly fertilizer because of its gradual fertilizer treatment and high quality. Existing research indicates that the solubility and absorption of struvite by plants are equivalent to those of artificial phosphorus fertilizers such as triple superphosphate or potassium phosphate. Struvite is recognized to be an effective fertilizer for grass, tree seedlings, ornamental plants, vegetables, and flower beds. Struvite precipitation removes phosphorus and nitrogen from sewage water, hence alleviating phosphorus shortages from non-renewable phosphorus sources and water eutrophication. Struvite would also be useful in the grasslands and woods where fertilizers are used. However, the agricultural utility of struvite has not been thoroughly investigated. As a result, this work is reported as a pot experiment designed to assess the fertilizer value of struvite. Experimental settings were created, and pot experiments were conducted to establish the optimal amount of struvite based on two factors. The initial pH for struvite synthesis was 9. The formulated struvite fertilizers were compared to standard phosphorus fertilizers in the pot trials. Fourier-transform spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy-Dispersive X Ray Spectroscopy (EDAX) were employed to support the quantitative findings. To summarize, struvite precipitation is a desirable and effective method for removing phosphate and nitrogen from domestic sewage water and using them as fertilizers.