Two-sectional struvite formation process for enhanced treatment of copper–ammonia complex wastewater

Abstract Mg 2+ and PO 4 3+ were added into the synthetic wastewater, leading to the dissociation of the complex ions in the wastewater, and resulting in removal of copper and ammonia therein. The effects of agents addition amount, pH, and reaction time on the removal efficiency of copper and ammonia were investigated. In particular, two-sectional struvite formation (TSSF) process was established for copper and ammonia removal. MgCl 2 and Na 2 HPO 4 were added by following 90% addition in the first section and remained 10% in the second during the TSSF process. Compared with one sectional struvite formation, TSSF possessed much better performance. Under condition of n (NH 3 -N): n (Mg): n (P)=1:1.2:1.5 (molar ratio), pH=9, and reaction time of 30 min, the removal efficiencies of copper and ammonia were 98.9% and 99.96%, respectively. The enhanced performance of TSSF is explained by the competition of ammonia by copper–ammonia complexes and struvite. The dissociation of copper–ammonia complexes is further demonstrated by thermodynamic equilibrium analysis, on the basis of calculations and establishment of predominance phases diagram. Moreover, XRD and EDS analyses further confirmed the formation of struvite and precipitation of copper, which prove the transmission of copper and ammonia from liquid phase into solid phase.