Simultaneous removal of phosphorus and potassium from synthetic urine through the precipitation of magnesium potassium phosphate hexahydrate

This study investigated the simultaneous removal of P and K from synthetic urine through the precipitation of magnesium potassium phosphate hexahydrate (MPP, MgKPO4·6H2O) in bench-scale experiments. Results show that the removal efficiencies of P and K are mainly determined by the solution pH and the molar ratio of Mg:K:P. Co-precipitation of struvite-type compounds, i.e., magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MAP, MgNH4PO4·6H2O), magnesium sodium phosphate heptahydrate (MSP, MgNaPO4·7H2O), and MPP, was confirmed by analysis of the solid precipitates using a Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive X-ray Apparatus and an X-ray Diffractometer. The co-precipitation significantly influenced the removal of K. As much ammonium as possible should be removed prior to MPP precipitation because MAP had higher tendency to form than MPP. The inevitable co-precipitation of MPP and MSP resulted in the addition of more MgCl2·6H2O and Na2HPO4·12H2O to obtain the high removal of K. In total, the removal efficiencies of P and K were 77% and 98%, respectively, in the absence of ammonium when pH was 10 and the molar ratio of Mg:K:P was 2:1:2. The results indicate that the MPP precipitation is an efficient method for the simultaneous removal of P and K to yield multi-nutrient products.

► 98% P and 77% K were removed from synthetic urine at appropriate conditions. ► pH and the molar ratio of Mg:K:P are the key factors for the removal of P and K. ► The co-precipitation of struvite-type compounds significantly reduced the K removal. ► The co-precipitation of MgKPO4·6H2O and MgNaPO4·7H2O caused more cost to remove K. ► As much ammonium as possible should be removed prior to the precipitation process.