Chemical Phosphorus Removal – How It Works
Phosphorus does not have a gaseous form, so it must be converted from soluble form to particulate form for removal. Chemical Phosphorus removal uses Iron or Aluminum compounds to combine with and precipitate out Phosphate.
Biological Phosphorus Removal – How It Works
Biological Phosphorus removal utilizes Phosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs). In the anaerobic environment, the PAOs consume volatile fatty acid compounds, while they release Phosphate into the water. In an aerobic environment, the PAOs consume more Phosphate than they can digest, which results in a net removal of Phosphorus from the wastewater. The PAOs settle in the secondary clarifier and are removed when the sludge is wasted.
