System and method for removal of phosphorus from a water source
AssigneeUniversity of Massachusetts
InventorsAhmed S. Abouhend, Lucca B. K. Mancilio, Caitlyn S. Butler
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Abstract
A phosphorus removal system includes a biofilm tank including a plurality of biofilm carriers having a biofilm disposed on at least a portion of a surface of each biofilm carrier. The system further includes a phosphorus recovery tank configured to receive a recovered phosphorus stream from the biofilm tank. Advantageously, the aqueous effluent stream that results from the system has a phosphorus concentration that is less than a phosphorus concentration of the inlet aqueous streams. Methods of phosphorus removal and recovery are also provided.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- a) providing water that contains a first concentration of phosphorus,
- b) under aerobic conditions, contacting the water with a biofilm comprising microorganisms which remove phosphorus from the water,
- c) after contacting, removing water that has a second concentration of phosphorus that is lower than the initial level of phosphorus,
- d) after removing the water, under anaerobic conditions, contacting the biofilm with a phosphorus recovery solution comprising a carbon source to cause the microorganisms to release the phosphorus into the phosphorus recovery solution, and
- e) after contacting, storing the phosphorus recovery solution.
A system for removing phosphorus from water comprising:
- a first vessel configured to receive water containing phosphorus and to discharge the water after treatment, the vessel containing biofilms comprising microorganisms which absorb phosphorus in aerobic conditions, the vessel having a switchable oxygen source, such that the vessel can operate in aerobic or anaerobic conditions,
- a phosphorus recovery solution storage vessel and carbon source fluidly connected to the first vessel, to provide a phosphorus recovery solution to the first vessel to cause release of phosphorus from the microorganisms into the phosphorus recovery solution during anaerobic operation of the first vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.