CSH Substrate Phosphate Recovery Wastewater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for recovering phosphorus from wastewater are inefficient and require complex procedural measures, such as adjusting pH values, and are not suitable for continuous operation, especially when dealing with high organic loads like manure, leading to potential groundwater contamination and low fertilizer effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A continuous phosphorus recovery system using a calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) substrate in a stirred reactor with a sedimentation tank, where CSH binds phosphate ions, allowing for efficient phosphate removal without pH adjustment, and the resulting product can be used directly as a slow-release fertilizer with low heavy metal contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional precipitation methods are used to remove phosphates from wastewater, then phosphate removal can be achieved, but the process requires complex procedural measures such as pH adjustment and is not suitable for continuous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The calcium silicate hydrate substrate performs phosphate removal automatically through its inherent chemical properties without requiring external pH adjustment or complex control systems. The substrate self-regulates the process by providing a stable surface for crystallization, eliminating the need for manual intervention and enabling continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential function of phosphate removal from the complex conventional process and isolates it to a simple substrate-based system. By removing the need for pH adjustment and complex procedural measures, the core phosphate removal capability is preserved while the complexity is eliminated.
2Productivity
If conventional precipitation methods are used, then phosphate removal is attempted, but the efficiency is low especially with high organic loads like manure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of organic loads into a beneficial process by using the substrate's ability to provide stable crystallization surfaces. The organic matter present in manure and other wastewater streams does not interfere with the substrate's function; instead, the substrate's inherent stability allows it to maintain high phosphate removal efficiency even in the presence of high organic loads.
3Quantity of substance
If phosphate ores are mined to meet growing demand, then phosphate supply can be maintained, but heavy metal contamination increases and resources are depleted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers phosphates from wastewater streams that would otherwise be discarded, creating a circular economy approach. By extracting phosphates from municipal and industrial wastewater, the system provides a sustainable phosphate source that does not require mining phosphate ores, thereby avoiding heavy metal contamination and resource depletion associated with conventional mining.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves high phosphate recovery efficiency with minimal procedural complexity, enabling continuous operation and reducing heavy metal contamination, allowing for the direct use of the recovered phosphates as fertilizers, thereby preventing environmental pollution.
Implementation Method 1
a) providing a calcium silicate hydrate (CCH) substrate; b) bringing the substrate into contact with the phosphate-containing wastewater so that the phosphate is bound by the substrate
Implementation Method 2
The system comprises a stirred reactor and a sedimentation tank
Implementation Method 3
a) separating the substrate loaded with phosphate from the treated wastewater
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a system for removing dissolved phosphates from wastewater, which can be used in both batch and continuous operation. The use of porous CSH substrates results in the crystallization of phosphate-containing mineral phases on the substrate surface, thereby achieving efficient phosphate removal. The invention further comprises a process for phosphate removal from wastewater using CSH substrates and the phosphate-containing product particles obtained in the process. These product particles can be further used, in particular as fertilizers in agriculture.