This paper investigates limestone and iron slag filters as an upgrade option for phosphorus removal from wastewater treatment ponds. A review of ‘active’ filter technology and the results from laboratory and field research using packed columns of the different media is presented. It is shown that both limestone and iron slag can remove phosphorus but highlights that different types of limestone give markedly different performance. Filter performance appears to be improved by increasing temperature and by the presence of algae, presumably because of its tendency to elevate pH. Performance is related to hydraulic retention time (HRT), but this relationship is not linear, particularly at low HRTs. Importantly for future research, the results from field-testing with pond effluent show significant differences compared to those obtained when using a synthetic feed in the laboratory. For the iron slag filter, higher performance was observed in the field (72% in field vs. 27% in laboratory, at a 12 hour-HRT), while the opposite was observed for the limestone (64% in laboratory vs. 18% in field, at a 12-hour HRT).
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Research Article|
June 01 2005
‘Active’ filters for upgrading phosphorus removal from pond systems
A. Shilton;
A. Shilton
*The Centre for Environmental Technology and Engineering, Institute of Technology and Engineering, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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S. Pratt;
S. Pratt
*The Centre for Environmental Technology and Engineering, Institute of Technology and Engineering, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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A. Drizo;
A. Drizo
**Plant and Soils Science Department, University of Vermont, 105, Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405 Canada
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B. Mahmood;
B. Mahmood
***Unitec New Zealand, School of Built Environment, Engineering Discipline, Private Bag 92025, Auckland, New Zealand
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S. Banker;
S. Banker
*The Centre for Environmental Technology and Engineering, Institute of Technology and Engineering, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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L. Billings;
L. Billings
*The Centre for Environmental Technology and Engineering, Institute of Technology and Engineering, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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S. Glenny;
S. Glenny
*The Centre for Environmental Technology and Engineering, Institute of Technology and Engineering, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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D. Luo
D. Luo
*The Centre for Environmental Technology and Engineering, Institute of Technology and Engineering, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Water Sci Technol (2005) 51 (12): 111–116.
Citation
A. Shilton, S. Pratt, A. Drizo, B. Mahmood, S. Banker, L. Billings, S. Glenny, D. Luo; ‘Active’ filters for upgrading phosphorus removal from pond systems. Water Sci Technol 1 June 2005; 51 (12): 111–116. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2005.0441
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