The crystallization of struvite by recycling poly-phosphate released from sewage sludge after thermal treatment

Because of the shortage crisis of phosphorus element and environmental problems caused by excess discharge of phosphorus compounds into nature water bodies, phosphorus recovery had been research hotspot. Poly-phosphate (poly-P) released from sewage sludge after thermal treatment could be recovered successfully as magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MgNH₄PO₄·6H₂O) commonly known as struvite in present study. This phenomenon was the first time to be found in phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge. The parameters affected struvite formation with poly-P had been tested. Poly-P indicated better characteristics in phosphorus recovery compared with ortho-phosphate (Pi) because it can be precipitated at lower pH condition even neutral condition, with less addition of magnesium element.