ANPHOS - New Floating Macrophyte Green Filters (FMF) for the Mediterranean Region

The treatment of wastewater with metal salts (e.g. iron chloride) is the most commonly used method for phosphorus removal in the wastewater treatment plants of the food industry in Europe. The process has a high environmental impact. The project aimed to apply the struvite process in anaerobic conditions to industrial effluents resulting from potato processing. The struvite process consists of treating the phosphorus with magnesium oxide and forming a magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) sludge, as such it replaces treatment of waste water with metal salts. In terms of the economic, social and environmental benefits, the demonstration of the struvite process on an industrial scale achieved considerable cost savings and reductions in the environmental impact of the plant. The project has therefore contributed to reducing surface water pollution by producing higher quality effluent. The beneficiary is looking into opportunities to market the struvite as a fertiliser for agricultural purposes, which should be possible as the process avoids the production of large amounts of sludge contaminated with heavy metals.