Study of Cd²⁺, Al³⁺, and SO₄²⁻ Ions Influence on Struvite Precipitation from Synthetic Water by Dissolved CO₂ Degasification Technique

Hassidou Saidou^1,2,3*, Atef Korchef^2,3, Sami Ben Moussa², Mohamed Ben Amor²

¹Departement of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Dan Dicko Dan Koulodo University of Maradi, Maradi, Niger.
²Laboratory of Traitment of Natural Water, Center of Research and Technology of Water, Technopark of Borj Cedria, Tunisia.
³Laboratory of Valorization of Useful Materials, National Center of Research in Material Sciences, Technopark of Borj Cedria, Tunisia.

DOI: 10.4236/ojic.2015.53006                

Abstract

The effect of cadmium, aluminum, and sulphate ions on struvite precipitation kinetics and morphology of solids obtained was investigated in this study. Thus, these ions were introduced as additives in solution where struvite precipitation was achieved. The main results obtained showed that the Cd²⁺ ions cause the probable co-formation, with struvite, of an amorphous phase observed from Cd²⁺ concentration of 10 mg/L; the addition of aluminum ions in the solution does not affect the nature of the crystalline phase, identified as struvite. However, these ions cause the formation of agglomerates of larger and larger as the concentration rises. Moreover, their increasing improved significantly the yield of phosphates removal; although the sulfate ions have no effect on the nature of the precipitated phase identified as struvite, independently of molar ratio studied, they affect the thermal decomposition of struvite. This latter is done in a single step by increasing the concentration of these ions for the SO₄²⁻/PO₄³⁻ molar ratio of 8.

Keywords

CO₂ Degasification Technique, Struvite Precipitation, Cd²⁺, Al³⁺, SO₄^2-

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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