REM NUT ion exchange plus struvite precipitation process

Nutrients control technologies from wastewater are based on destructive technologies which defer the problem from the diluted liquid-phase (effluent) to a more concentrated waste (sludge) in the case of phosphates, or to nitrogen gas and/or volatile compounds in the case of ammonia. The REM NUT process allows for simultaneous removal of phosphate and ammonium ions by selective ion exchange and recovery by chemical precipitation in the form of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) from the spent exchangers regeneration eluates. In the paper revised versions of the REM NUT process, i.e., P-driven layouts, are presented and cost effectiveness is compared to chemical precipitation based on the use of ferric chloride.