Modelling phosphorus sorption kinetics and the longevity of reactive filter materials used for on-sitewastewater treatment

• Use of reactive filter media (RFM) is an emerging technology in small-scale wastewater treatment to improve phosphorus (P) removal and filter material longevity for making this technology sustainable. In this study, long-term sorption kinetics and the spatial dynamics of sorbed P distribution were simulated in replaceable P-filter bags filled with 700 L of reactive material and used in real on-site treatment systems. The input data for model calibration were obtained in laboratory trials with Filtralite P®, Polonite® and Top16. The P concentration breakthrough threshold value was set at an effluent/influent (C/C 0 ) ratio of 1 and simulations were performed with P concentrations varying from 1 to 25 mg L -1 . The simulation results showed that influent P concentration was important for the breakthrough and longevity, and that Polonite performed best, followed by Top16 and Filtralite P. A 100-day break in simulated intermittent flow allowed the materials to recover, which for Polonite involved slight retardation of P saturation. The simulated spatial distribution of P accumulated in the filter bags showed large differences between the filter materials. The modelling insights from this study can be applied in design and operation of on-site treatment systems using reactive filter materials.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Miljöbioteknik -- Vattenbehandling (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Biotechnology -- Water Treatment (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Breakthrough

COMSOL modelling

P-filter bags

Phosphorus saturation

Solute transport

Effluents

Filtration

Phosphorus

Wastewater treatment

Design and operations

Emerging technologies

Filter bags

Phosphorus sorption

Reactive materials

Small scale wastewater treatment

Passive filters

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)