Struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) Solubility and Its Application to a Piggery Effluent Problem

Struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) solution chemistry was studied in order to understand a struvite scaling problem which exists in the pipe network of a series of 4 effluent lagoons at a piggery. The conditional solubility constant (PS=SMG·SNH3−N·SPO4−P, equilibrium S values (M)) was determined over a range of pH values (6.8-8.5) and solution concentrations of Mg, NH3−N and PO4−P close to field conditions, and at a temperature of 30°C. A comparison of field and laboratory data indicates struvite precipitates from the second lagoon onwards. The solubility data obtained also indicate potential for precipitation as a method of nutrient removal from wastewaters.