Phosphorus removal in domestic wastewater treatment plant by calcined eggshell

Abstract Recovery of phosphorus (P) from wastewater is a topic great interest. Besides being non-renewable resource, P discharge in receiving waters can trigger algae blooms. The present study aimed to quantify the removal two sites at treatment plant using calcined eggshell (CES) as adsorbent. CES was prepared raw shells 600 °C (CES600) and 800 (CES800). proved be an efficient material for removal. Efficiencies greater than 70% were achieved CES800 concentrations 0.1 g L?1 synthetic sample, 0.3 preliminary treated 20 supernatant sludge anaerobic digester. adsorption process fast, occurring mostly first 30 min. Both Langmuir Freundlich isotherms fitted experimental data on adsorption. In kinetic experiments, pseudo-second-order model synthetic, effluent digester supernatant. Thermogravimetric analysis showed 54% mass loss °C. Calcination increased calcium reduced carbon fractions eggshells, while increasing surface area.