ElectrochemicalRemoval of Phosphate Ions from TreatedWastewater.

Theobjective of this work was to investigate electrochemical removalof phosphate from secondary treatment effluent containing calciumand magnesium hardness. Phosphate and hardness removal were carriedout using a recently developed technique based on an electrochemicalcation exchange membrane system (ECM system). The ECM system overcomesmajor drawbacks of the current electrochemical technology, notablyhigh electrode area requirements. The parameters investigated werethe effects of current density and pH on the phosphate precipitationrate and on the fractional phosphate removal. The effect of presenceor absence of phosphate ion on the coprecipitation of calcium carbonateand magnesium hydroxide was also studied. Results indicate the feasibilityof viable electrochemical phosphate removal by the convenient ECMtechnique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]