Phosphate removal from municipal wastewater by alginate-like exopolymers hydrogels recovered from aerobic granular sludge

This worked assessed the potential of alginate-like exopolymers (ALE) hydrogels recovered from aerobic granular sludge (AGS) in removing compounds commonly present municipal wastewater. Batch sorption experiments were performed with ALE at different operating conditions. Results showed that can only remove phosphate, removal efficiencies up to 90.8% and practical loadings 1.22 ± 0.07 mg PO43?-P/g TSALE. Phosphate was observed even presence competing ions. Moreover, neutral acidic pH values strongly impaired phosphate (28.9 0.8% = 6.00), while basic around 8.50 most favourable (up 8.67). However, contributed increase COD, total nitrogen phosphorus bulk liquid, what suggests need be further tailored. Therefore, this study demonstrates represent a relevant approach for recovery phosphates