Removal of phosphorus from wastewater

Phosphorus removal is required to prevent eutrophication (like algae bloom) of surface water bodies. The PHOSPAQ^™ post-treatment process removes biologically degradable COD, phosphate (PO43-) and ammonium (NH4+) from wastewater. It takes place in an aerated reactor, which provides optimal conditions for biological conversion of COD and promotes struvite formation.

PHOSPAQ^™ combines COD removal, ammonia removal, phosphate removal and phosphorus recovery in one reactor. This removal of phosphorus from wastewater deletes up to 95% of the phosphate in wastewater.

As phosphorus is a scarce nutrient essential to all life, phosphorus recovery from wastewater is of importance. Recover of phosphorous from wastewater will contribute to a more circular society as it converts a waste product into a resource. PHOSPAQ^™ allows facilities to harvest commercial phosphate from wastewater. By adding magnesium oxide, phosphate and ammonium will precipitate and form magnesium-ammonium-phosphate (so called struvite).The nutrient rich struvite is an excellent slow-release circular fertilizer.

To raise the effluent quality of (municipal) wastewater treatment plants, a treatment stage can be added to reduce concentrations of nitrogen, BOD, phosphate and TSS. ASTRASAND^® is not only effective in removal phosphorus from wastewater, but also for the final removal of ammonia, nitrate, TSS and BOD. The ASTRASAND^® filtration process removes phosphate to levels below 0.15 mg/l respectively.

With more than 40 years of experience and over 3,500 installations worldwide in sand filtration, Paques can provide every industrial or public facility with a tailor-made sand filter system that meets all requirements.