Phosphorus Removal In Wastewater By Chemical Precipitation

Neo WaterFX (formerly RE300) – Phosphorus Removal In Wastewater With Multiple Benefits

When it comes to chemical precipitation of phosphorus from wastewater, the traditional route has been to borrow the precipitating chemicals from drinking water, namely aluminum-based or iron-based compounds. In drinking water, these chemicals produce flocks that remove many substances that contribute to the turbidity of the water and are used to reduce the solids load prior to filtration. This is great for drinking water where the target is general turbidity. But this lack of specificity has several drawbacks when used to remove phosphorus from wastewater, especially as discharge limits continue to be ratcheted down by regulators.

In the early days of phosphorus removal, when P limits were in the 5 mg/L range, these chemicals worked reasonably well. They were well known, tried and true solutions, and operators felt comfortable with them. The trouble is they are not very efficient. As P limits fell to 3 mg/L, then to 1 mg/L and now often below 1 mg/L, the amount of coagulant required to sufficiently remove phosphorus increased almost exponentially. Their lack of specificity, their ability to form flocks with basically whatever they bumped into, but not to bind with anything preferentially, drove the amount of chemical needed higher and higher as P limits got lower and lower.

Now there is a better alternative: Neo WaterFX. The chemicals in Neo WaterFX (formerly RE300) have a strong affinity for phosphate, binding strongly and preferentially with phosphate to form a dense insoluble crystal. This is not only much more efficient, requiring far less chemical to achieve even the lowest phosphorus limits, but provides sweeping benefits that include the following:

Less sludge volume
Denser, easier to dewater sludge, requiring less polymer
Better settling and cleaner clarifiers
Lower sludge disposal costs
Phosphate removal across a broader range of pH than traditional coagulants
Better pH control, little to no need to augment with caustic to conserve alkalinity for nitrification or adjust for final pH discharge limits
Less toxic and less corrosive chemical, for a cleaner, safer plant
Overall cost savings for treatment, which translates to a healthier bottom line

In the coming series, we will explore these many benefits of Neo WaterFX (formerly RE300). We will examine the chemical properties that account for these benefits and give Neo WaterFX an edge over traditional drinking water coagulants. We will also discuss how a test can be set up on YOUR wastewater, for a low-capital, low-risk evaluation to see if switching is right for you.