Recovery of phosphate from municipal wastewater as calcium phosphate and its subsequent application for the treatment of acid mine drainage

Collen Nepfumbada; Nikita Tawanda Tavengwa; Vhahangwele Masindi; Spyros Foteinis; Efthalia Chatzisymeon

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106779

Recovery of phosphate from municipal wastewater as calcium phosphate and its subsequent application for the treatment of acid mine drainage

Collen Nepfumbada
, Nikita Tawanda Tavengwa
, Vhahangwele Masindi
, Spyros Foteinis
, Efthalia Chatzisymeon

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

58 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Here, the co-managment of municipal wastewater (MWW) and acid mine drainage (AMD) is proposed, where the recovered low-value phosphorus from MWW is used for the treatment of AMD. Specifically, MWW was treated using calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂), a low-cost and readily available material, with the ammonia content being greatly reduced (89%) through stripping and phosphates practically eliminated (>99%). The recovered low-value phosphorus material, in the form of calcium phosphate (Ca₃(PO₄)₂), was then used for the treatment of AMD from coal mining. Metals contained in AMD scavenged phosphorous, forming new minerals, and the increased alkalinity led to their precipitation. The optimum treatment conditions were 90 min contact time, 10 g L⁻¹ Ca₃(PO₄)₂ dosage, and room temperature and ambient pH. Under these conditions, AMD's metal content (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Al, and Zn) was practically depleted (>99% removal) and sulphate (SO₄) greatly reduced (90.6%). Results were underpinned by FTIR, FIB/SEM, EDS/SEM, XRF, and XRD. Overall, this indirect co-treatment method holds great promise for the sustainable management of both wastewater matrices and can provide a simple and effective solution for their co-management, particularly in the developing world context where it could also help in advancing the UN's sustainable development goals.

Original language	English
Article number	106779
Journal	Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Volume	190
Early online date	30 Nov 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106779
Publication status	Published - Mar 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

Acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) and acid rock drainage (ARD)
Sustainable wastewater management
Water reclamation
Wastewater valorisation
Minerals synthesis and recovery
Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) and circular economy

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@article{3da1ed9e3e0444e8a1a0605b02c425ab,

title = "Recovery of phosphate from municipal wastewater as calcium phosphate and its subsequent application for the treatment of acid mine drainage",

abstract = "Here, the co-managment of municipal wastewater (MWW) and acid mine drainage (AMD) is proposed, where the recovered low-value phosphorus from MWW is used for the treatment of AMD. Specifically, MWW was treated using calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), a low-cost and readily available material, with the ammonia content being greatly reduced (89\%) through stripping and phosphates practically eliminated (>99\%). The recovered low-value phosphorus material, in the form of calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2), was then used for the treatment of AMD from coal mining. Metals contained in AMD scavenged phosphorous, forming new minerals, and the increased alkalinity led to their precipitation. The optimum treatment conditions were 90 min contact time, 10 g L−1 Ca3(PO4)2 dosage, and room temperature and ambient pH. Under these conditions, AMD's metal content (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Al, and Zn) was practically depleted (>99\% removal) and sulphate (SO4) greatly reduced (90.6\%). Results were underpinned by FTIR, FIB/SEM, EDS/SEM, XRF, and XRD. Overall, this indirect co-treatment method holds great promise for the sustainable management of both wastewater matrices and can provide a simple and effective solution for their co-management, particularly in the developing world context where it could also help in advancing the UN's sustainable development goals.",

keywords = "Acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) and acid rock drainage (ARD), Sustainable wastewater management, Water reclamation, Wastewater valorisation, Minerals synthesis and recovery, Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) and circular economy",

author = "Collen Nepfumbada and Tavengwa, \{Nikita Tawanda\} and Vhahangwele Masindi and Spyros Foteinis and Efthalia Chatzisymeon",

note = "Funding Information: The authors of this manuscript would like to convey their sincere and profound gratitude to the University of South Africa, the University of Venda, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, University of Pretoria, and Magalies Water for extending their facilities and funding towards the accomplishment of this project. The mining houses and municipal wastewater facilities who granted researchers in this study permission to collect the effluents are also acknowledged. Funding Information: The authors of this manuscript would like to convey their sincere and profound gratitude to the University of South Africa , the University of Venda , Council for Scientific and Industrial Research , University of Pretoria , and Magalies Water for extending their facilities and funding towards the accomplishment of this project. The mining houses and municipal wastewater facilities who granted researchers in this study permission to collect the effluents are also acknowledged. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2023",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106779",

language = "English",

volume = "190",

journal = "Resources, Conservation and Recycling",

issn = "0921-3449",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Recovery of phosphate from municipal wastewater as calcium phosphate and its subsequent application for the treatment of acid mine drainage

AU - Nepfumbada, Collen

AU - Tavengwa, Nikita Tawanda

AU - Masindi, Vhahangwele

AU - Foteinis, Spyros

AU - Chatzisymeon, Efthalia

N1 - Funding Information: The authors of this manuscript would like to convey their sincere and profound gratitude to the University of South Africa, the University of Venda, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, University of Pretoria, and Magalies Water for extending their facilities and funding towards the accomplishment of this project. The mining houses and municipal wastewater facilities who granted researchers in this study permission to collect the effluents are also acknowledged. Funding Information: The authors of this manuscript would like to convey their sincere and profound gratitude to the University of South Africa , the University of Venda , Council for Scientific and Industrial Research , University of Pretoria , and Magalies Water for extending their facilities and funding towards the accomplishment of this project. The mining houses and municipal wastewater facilities who granted researchers in this study permission to collect the effluents are also acknowledged. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2023/3

Y1 - 2023/3

N2 - Here, the co-managment of municipal wastewater (MWW) and acid mine drainage (AMD) is proposed, where the recovered low-value phosphorus from MWW is used for the treatment of AMD. Specifically, MWW was treated using calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), a low-cost and readily available material, with the ammonia content being greatly reduced (89%) through stripping and phosphates practically eliminated (>99%). The recovered low-value phosphorus material, in the form of calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2), was then used for the treatment of AMD from coal mining. Metals contained in AMD scavenged phosphorous, forming new minerals, and the increased alkalinity led to their precipitation. The optimum treatment conditions were 90 min contact time, 10 g L−1 Ca3(PO4)2 dosage, and room temperature and ambient pH. Under these conditions, AMD's metal content (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Al, and Zn) was practically depleted (>99% removal) and sulphate (SO4) greatly reduced (90.6%). Results were underpinned by FTIR, FIB/SEM, EDS/SEM, XRF, and XRD. Overall, this indirect co-treatment method holds great promise for the sustainable management of both wastewater matrices and can provide a simple and effective solution for their co-management, particularly in the developing world context where it could also help in advancing the UN's sustainable development goals.

AB - Here, the co-managment of municipal wastewater (MWW) and acid mine drainage (AMD) is proposed, where the recovered low-value phosphorus from MWW is used for the treatment of AMD. Specifically, MWW was treated using calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), a low-cost and readily available material, with the ammonia content being greatly reduced (89%) through stripping and phosphates practically eliminated (>99%). The recovered low-value phosphorus material, in the form of calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2), was then used for the treatment of AMD from coal mining. Metals contained in AMD scavenged phosphorous, forming new minerals, and the increased alkalinity led to their precipitation. The optimum treatment conditions were 90 min contact time, 10 g L−1 Ca3(PO4)2 dosage, and room temperature and ambient pH. Under these conditions, AMD's metal content (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Al, and Zn) was practically depleted (>99% removal) and sulphate (SO4) greatly reduced (90.6%). Results were underpinned by FTIR, FIB/SEM, EDS/SEM, XRF, and XRD. Overall, this indirect co-treatment method holds great promise for the sustainable management of both wastewater matrices and can provide a simple and effective solution for their co-management, particularly in the developing world context where it could also help in advancing the UN's sustainable development goals.

KW - Acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) and acid rock drainage (ARD)

KW - Sustainable wastewater management

KW - Water reclamation

KW - Wastewater valorisation

KW - Minerals synthesis and recovery

KW - Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) and circular economy

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85145591884

U2 - 10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106779

DO - 10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106779

M3 - Article

SN - 0921-3449

VL - 190

JO - Resources, Conservation and Recycling

JF - Resources, Conservation and Recycling

M1 - 106779

ER -

Recovery of phosphate from municipal wastewater as calcium phosphate and its subsequent application for the treatment of acid mine drainage

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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