Selective recovery of coagulants from water clarifier sludge by the use of fibrous ion exchangers

A new technology for removal and recovery of coagulants from water clarifier sludge has been optimized at laboratory scale pilot plant level. The process is based on the use fibrous exchangers showing good kinetic and thermodynamic performance toward coagulant species (Al, Fe) present in the acidic leachate (pH 3.5) from water clarifier sludge. The innovation allows for the solution of the environmental problem related to clarifier sludge disposal (residual solids after metals leaching are safely applied to land), and quantitative recovery of coagulants to the water potabilisation operations. Process optimisation, by using real clarifier sludge from the Sinni River Water Works (Apulian Water Authority, S.E. Italy), was carried-out and results are illustrated in the paper. A commercial weak cation fibrous exchanger (Fiban K4) with carboxylate functionality, selectively removed aluminium and ferric species in "moving bed" unit operations with the resin re-circulating through the stationary exhaustion and regeneration baths. Resin regeneration was efficiently carried-out by the use of 0.4M NaOH solution for quantitative recovery of almost pure coagulants, ready for reuse. Together with process optimisation, the paper also reports some mechanistic indications on the fibrous resin performance toward polyvalent metal species retention at the resin functional groups.