Water Treatment
Chemical Precipitation
Addition of chemicals such as alum (aluminum sulfate), ferric chloride, or lime to precipitate phosphorus as insoluble compounds.
Forms precipitates like aluminum or iron phosphates that can be filtered out.
Coagulation and Flocculation
Process where coagulants are added to water to destabilize colloidal particles, followed by flocculation to form larger flocs that can be removed.
Can effectively remove phosphorus along with other contaminants.
Biological Treatment
Utilisation of microorganisms like bacteria or algae to naturally remove phosphorus from water through biological processes.
Commonly used in constructed wetlands, biological filters, or activated sludge systems.
Adsorption
Use of adsorbent materials such as activated carbon, iron oxide, or certain clays to capture phosphorus from water through surface binding.
Adsorbents can be regenerated or disposed of after saturation.
Ion Exchange
Process where ions in water are exchanged with ions attached to a solid ion exchange resin.
Can remove phosphorus ions by replacing them with other ions bound to the resin.
Membrane Filtration
Utilisation of membranes with specific pore sizes to physically separate phosphorus particles from water.
Techniques include microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, or reverse osmosis.
Electrocoagulation
Electrochemical process where electric current is applied to water to generate coagulating agents in situ.
Helps in precipitating phosphorus and other contaminants for removal.
Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs)
Utilisation of powerful oxidising agents such as ozone, hydrogen peroxide, or UV radiation to degrade phosphorus-containing compounds.
Effective for breaking down organic phosphorus compounds into less harmful forms.