Abstract

The present paper reports the results of an investigation aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of magnesiumammonium phosphate precipitation (MAP), commonly called struvite, for removing ammonia froma mature municipal landfill leachate. MAP precipitation was carried out at laboratory scale by addingphosphoric acid and magnesium oxide as external sources of phosphorus and magnesium, respectively,and regulating the pH at 9.0. The effect of Mg:NH4:PO3 ratio was studied. Due to the low solubility ofMgO, a low ammonia removal efficiency (i.e. 67%), with a rather high residual concentration, wasobtained when the stoichiometric molar ratio was applied. However, by doubling the amount of magnesiumoxide (i.e. by using a molar ratio of 2:1:1), ammonia removal efficiency increased up to 95% with aresidual concentration compatible with a successive biological treatment. The struvite produced in thepresent study showed a composition close to the theoretical one. Furthermore, the precipitate was characterizedby a heavy metal content much lower than that of typical raw soil, excluding any concern aboutheavy metal contamination in the case of its use as a fertilizer. The economic analysis of the processshowed that ammonia can be removed at a cost of 9.6 EUR/kg NH4-Nremoved. This value can be greatlyreduced, however, if the value of the struvite produced is considered.

Autore Pugliese

• Di Iaconi Claudio

Tutti gli autori

• DI IACONI C.; PAGANO M.; RAMADORI R.; LOPEZ A.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Bioresource technology

Anno di pubblicazione

2010

ISSN

0960-8524

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Numero di citazioni Scopus

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Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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