Publication of a scientific article on the recovery of dissolved phosphor in the form of vivianite by means of membrane-assisted reactive crystallisation, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Cranfield.
In collaboration with researchers from the School of Water, Energy and Environment (Cranfield University), researchers from the MATS research group have published an article titled "Membrane-assisted reactive crystallisation for the recovery of dissolved phosphorus in vivianite form from liquid effluents" in the prestigious journal Separation and Purification Technology. The article presents the results of an innovative membrane-assisted reactive crystallization (MARC) process for the recovery of dissolved phosphorus in the form of vivianite crystals from phosphate-rich solutions.
This work describes how the crystallization process, through the addition of iron(II), is influenced by hydraulic conditions and the properties of the membranes used. It was observed that reducing the liquid flow rate favored crystal nucleation, decreasing the induction time and increasing the nucleation rate of vivianite. Additionally, membrane properties such as hydrophobicity, roughness, pore size, and porosity proved to be key factors in modifying the crystallization process. The results showed that, regardless of the hydraulic conditions and membranes used, spherical vivianite nanoparticles with an average size of 35 nm and a narrow distribution were synthesized. The study concludes that the MARC process is an attractive alternative for nutrient recovery from wastewater, as it allows precise control of crystal nucleation through the configuration of operating conditions and membrane properties, which can significantly intensify the process compared to conventional crystallizers.
R. Jiménez-Robles, V. Martínez-Soria, M. Izquierdo, Lo-I. Chen, K. Le Corre Pidou, E.J. McAdam. Membrane-assisted reactive crystallisation for the recovery of dissolved phosphorus in vivianite form from liquid effluents. Separation and Purification Technology, 326, 2023, 124712.
