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Phosphorus in Freshwater Ecosystems pp 305–319Cite as

Control of Phosphorus Discharges: Present Situation and Trends

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Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 48))

Abstract

The dominating sources of phosphorus in municipal wastewaters are excreta, 1.4gP/(cap.d) and detergents, 0.6 - 2 g P/(cap.d). Detergent phosphorus can ba substituted by nitrilotriacetic acid or zeolites, but if a substantial reduction of phosphorus in municipal waters is to be achieved, modifying the treatment process is necessary. Primary, treatment by sedimentation removes only 10–15% and secondary biological treatment 20–30% of the phosphorus in waste water. If chemicals are added to the primary or secondary treatment stage or to a separate chemical stage, phosphorus can be efficiently removed. An effluent level of 0.8–1.5 g P m-3 is easily achieved and with a filtration step it is possible to maintain 0.2 g P m-3 in the effluent. Different process configurations are discussed. As precipitants, ferrous and ferric salts, alum and lime are widely used. By introducing anaerobic zones in the activated sludge process, it is possible to promote the growth of bacteria which enhance biological phosphorus uptake. This makes it possible to achieve high phosphorus removal without or, al least, with very small chemical additions. Several emerging physical, chemical and biological phosphorus removal processes are discussed. The removal of phosphorus to a level of 0.8–1.5 gPm-3 increases cost 10– 20% compared with conventional primary secondary treatment. Higher removal efficiencies will rapidly increase the marginal cost per marginal kg P removed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sanitary Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, S-412 96, Göteborg, Sweden

    Peter Balmér & Bengt Hultman

  2. Swedish Water and Waste Water Works Association, Regeringsgatan 86, S-111 39, Stockholm, Sweden

    Peter Balmér & Bengt Hultman

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  1. Peter Balmér
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Gunnar Persson Mats Jansson

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© 1988 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Balmér, P., Hultman, B. (1988). Control of Phosphorus Discharges: Present Situation and Trends. In: Persson, G., Jansson, M. (eds) Phosphorus in Freshwater Ecosystems. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 48. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3109-1_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3109-1_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7898-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3109-1

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