The recovery of phosphorus as a critical raw material from wastewater streams is becoming increasingly important in view of limited geogenic deposits. The WERA Research Training Group is pursuing various approaches to phosphorus recovery, from the development of adsorbents to the optimization of separation processes. The aim is to provide customized materials and efficient processes that enable the sustainable and economical recovery of phosphorus.

The LRF is focusing on sub-area C2, in which an adsorption-desorption process for the separation of phosphorus from wastewater is to be developed. Two columns are operated in parallel, in which the adsorption of phosphorus from the wastewater and the regeneration of the loaded adsorbent by desorption with a rinsing solution take place alternately. To optimize the process, different process conditions such as flow rates, adsorbent, geometric dimensions, composition of the rinsing solution and the wastewater matrix are investigated.

Central elements of the project:

• Development of an adsorption-desorption process for phosphate separation in wastewater treatment plants
• Investigation of the process conditions and long-term behavior (degradation behavior)
• Optimized combination of adsorbent and process conditions through experimental studies
• Simulation of the adsorption-desorption behavior
• Investigation of feasibility within wastewater treatment plants through a combination of simulation and experiments