Controlling struvite particles' size using the up-flow velocity
dc.contributor.author
dc.date.accessioned
2016-11-22T15:49:26Z
dc.date.available
2016-11-22T15:49:26Z
dc.date.issued
2016-10-15
dc.identifier.issn
1385-8947
dc.identifier.uri
dc.description.abstract
Struvite crystallization has been widely investigated, but little attention has been focused on particle size, an important characteristic in fertilizers that affects the agronomic response. Although there is no standard, it is an interesting parameter to be controlled as each crop and soil require a specific fertilizer size. Few attempts have been made to increase particle size. In air-lift reactors, the up-flow velocity could be used as a controlling parameter for particle size. It is hypothesized that the up-flow velocity determines the minimum theoretical equivalent diameter that can be recovered. Its effectiveness as a controlling parameter for particle size was evaluated in a combined air-lift reactor at different up-flow velocities (from 13.3 to 26.3mh-1). Particle size was found to be directly correlated with the up-flow velocity, and according to the theoretical approach about the minimum equivalent diameter. Moreover, particle growth was promoted by operating the crystallizer in continuous mode at the best up-flow velocity (22.6mh-1), having an increase of the mean particle size in time (138.6h) from 201μm to 314μm, and recovering particles up to 800-1000μm. The up-flow velocity control did not affect the phosphate recovery rates (>90%) and XRD confirmed that only pure struvite crystals were recovered. Therefore, this study shows that struvite can be recovered from a waste stream and control its particle size using the up-flow velocity to adjust to the customers' requirements
dc.description.sponsorship
This research has received funding from the European Community’s Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement n 603744, within the ManureEcoMine project. E.T. was financially supported by the Catalan Government (2014FI_B 00264). LEQUIA has been recognized as a consolidated research group by the Catalan Government with code 2014-SGR-1168. LEQUIA would like to thank the University of Girona (MPCUdG2016/137) for its financial support
dc.format.mimetype
application/pdf
dc.language.iso
eng
dc.publisher
Elsevier
dc.relation
AGAUR/2014-2016/2014 SGR 1168
dc.relation.isformatof
Reproducció digital del document publicat a: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2016.06.036
dc.relation.ispartof
Chemical Engineering Journal, 2016, vol.302, p. 819-827
dc.relation.ispartofseries
Articles publicats (D-EQATA)
dc.rights
Reconeixement-NoComercial-SenseObraDerivada 4.0 Internacional
dc.rights.uri
dc.subject
dc.title
Controlling struvite particles' size using the up-flow velocity
dc.type
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.rights.accessRights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.embargo.terms
Cap
dc.relation.projectID
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/603744/EU/Green fertilizer upcycling from manure: Technological, economic and environmental sustainability demonstration/MANUREECOMINE
dc.type.version
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
dc.identifier.doi
dc.identifier.idgrec
025169
dc.contributor.funder
dc.type.peerreviewed
peer-reviewed
dc.relation.FundingProgramme
dc.relation.ProjectAcronym