The Use of Ultrasound for the Electrochemical Synthesis of Magnesium Ammonium Phosphate Hexahydrate (Struvite)

With the observed global intensification of the agricultural sector, slurry management has now become a severe problem causing a large amount of pollution due to industrial fertilizers. It is imperative that techniques are developed to combat these issues. Furthermore, the efficient extraction of biologically useful phosphorus will allow the production of renewable fertilizers, replacing the requirement for mining of dwindling phosphate reserves. This present work highlights the recovery of nutrients (e.g. nitrogen and phosphorus) by electrochemical precipitation of struvite in the absence and presence of ultrasound using magnesium (Mg) electrodes in concentrated artificial wastewater under electroless conditions. It was observed that the combination of electrochemistry and power ultrasound can facilitate and accelerate the production of struvite in synthetic wastewater.