Microbial phosphorus removal and recovery by struvite biomineralisation in comparison to chemical struvite precipitation in municipal wastewater

Microbial biomineralisation is attracting significant interest as an innovative process to recover nutrients from wastes. Nevertheless, little understood about the requirements form struvite using biological pathways in wastewater and how does this compare with conventional chemical processes. To address gap, Halobacterium salinarum, Bacillus pumilus, Brevibacterium antiquum, Myxococcus xanthus Idiomarina loihiensis were grown explore relationships between cell growth, levels properties of recovered precipitates. The microorganisms capable removing ortho-phosphate (PO4-P) municipal at concentrations ranging 5.4 62.4 mg PO4-P/L. Visible crystals (bio-struvite) (identified by morphology XRD elemental analysis), observed PO4-P ? 19.7 mg/L, compared precipitation mg/L (with pH adjustment). initial nutrient presented a strong positive correlation bio-struvite production yields crystal size distribution. B. antiquum distinguished itself relatively stable removal (68–97%) independent concentration, effluents containing low 1 high purity heavy metal contents, meeting regulations for inorganic fertiliser. microbial processes phosphorus (P) recovery several key advantages: released recoverable filtration no need adjust pH, had equivalent 11.8–12.3% P content, which was similar or better than that (12.6% P). This study validates bio-struvite’s relevance concentrations.