A1 Journal article (refereed)
The Use of Industrial Waste Materials for the Simultaneous Removal of Ammonium Nitrogen and Phosphate from the Anaerobic Digestion Reject Water (2020)

Myllymäki, P., Pesonen, J., Nurmesniemi, E.-T., Romar, H., Tynjälä, P., Hu, T., & Lassi, U. (2020). The Use of Industrial Waste Materials for the Simultaneous Removal of Ammonium Nitrogen and Phosphate from the Anaerobic Digestion Reject Water. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 11(8), 4013-4024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-019-00724-8

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Myllymäki, Pekka; Pesonen, Janne; Nurmesniemi, Emma-Tuulia; Romar, Henrik; Tynjälä, Pekka; Hu, Tao; Lassi, Ulla

Journal or series: Waste and Biomass Valorization

ISSN: 1877-2641

eISSN: 1877-265X

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 11

Issue number: 8

Pages range: 4013-4024

Publisher: Springer

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-019-00724-8

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/66191

Abstract

The European Union’s circular economy strategy aims to increase the recycling and re-use of products and waste materials. According to the strategy, the use of industry waste materials and side flows is required to be more effective. In this research, a chemical precipitation method to simultaneously remove ammonium and phosphate from the reject water of anaerobic digestion plant using calcined paper mill sludge and fly ash as a precipitant, was tested. Paper mill sludge is a waste material formed in the paper-making process, and fly ash is another waste material formed in the power plant. Objective of this research was to test whether these industrial waste streams could be used as low cost precipitation chemicals for ammonium and phosphate removal from wastewaters and whether the precipitate could be suitable for fertilizer use. Results indicated that calcined paper mill sludge had high removal efficiency for both ammonium (97%) and phosphate (73%). Fly ash also had good removal efficiency for both ammonium nitrogen (74%) and phosphate (59%) at 20 ± 2 °C. The precipitates contained high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphate and could be used as a recycled fertilizer. Other possible mechanisms for the removal of phosphate and ammonium were considered.

Keywords: waste utilisation; industrial waste; sludge; fly ash; waste water treatment; precipitation (active); nitrogen; phosphates

Free keywords: calcined paper mill sludge; fly ash; nitrogen removal; phosphate removal; precipitation

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2020

JUFO rating: 1