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Lookup NU author(s): Jon Aumonier, Professor Paul Younger
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Treatment of polluting discharges from abandoned coal mines in the UK currently produces ca 30,000 t y(-1) of hydrous iron oxides ("ochre"), for which there is no major end-use, but which has previously been shown to have potential for removing P from wastewater and agricultural runoff. The efficiency of ochre for P removal from wastewater was investigated in experiments at two sites in the UK: Leitholm in Scotland and Windlestone in England. The three-year experiment at Leitholm involved diverting secondary-treated wastewater effluent through a trough which contained granular and pelletized ochre at different times. In the nine-month experiment at Windlestone, beds of ochre pellets in horizontal and vertical flow configurations were tested. The ochre treatment systems at Leitholm reduced influent concentrations of total P (TP) and TP mass by ca 80% and 50%, respectively, during optimal flow conditions, and achieved a removal rate of up to 65 +/- 48 mg TP kg(-1) ochre d(-1). There was no detectable release of potentially toxic metals from the ochre during the experiments. P removal rates by concentration were inversely related to flow and declined during the different phases of the experiments, probably due to clogging. At Windlestone, higher removal rates up to 195 mg TP kg(-1) ochre d(-1) were achieved for short periods of time following cleaning of the experimental system. Ochre has considerable potential to remove P from wastewater in a multi-stage treatment system and has a lifetime estimated to be 10 times longer than other substrates tested for P removal. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved,
Author(s): Dobbie KE, Heal KV, Aumonier J, Smith KA, Johnston A, Younger PL
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Chemosphere
Year: 2009
Volume: 75
Issue: 6
Pages: 795-800
ISSN (print): 0045-6535
ISSN (electronic): 1879-1298
Publisher: Pergamon
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.12.049
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.12.049
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