Precipitation of struvite using MgSO(4) solution prepared from sidestream dolomite or fly ash

Struvite (NH(4)MgPO(4)∗6H(2)O) is a slow-release fertilizer produced from phosphorus and nitrogen-containing wastewater in the presence of Mg salts. Commercial Mg salts are the single most significant cost of struvite precipitation. In this study, H(2)SO(4) formed as an industrial sidestream was used to prepare MgSO(4) solution from waste dolomite (DOL) and fly ash (FA). MgSO(4) solution was then used to precipitate struvite from a synthetic (NH(4))(2)HPO(4) solution and from actual industrial process waters. The best results were obtained with real process waters where over 99% of phosphate and about 80% ammonium removals were achieved with both MgSO4 solutions after 30 min of reaction time. A higher molar ratio between Mg and P improved the phosphate removal efficiency, especially with DOL-based MgSO4 solutions; however, it had no practical effect on ammonium removal. The struvite content of precipitates was 75.49% with an FA-based chemical and 60.93% with a DOL-based chemical; other valuable nutrients (Ca, K, S, Fe, Mn, and Cl) were captured in the precipitates. The results indicate that both sidestream-based reagents perform well in struvite precipitation and that the formed precipitates could be used as fertilizers.