Process & contact
PHOSPHIX® (Clean TeQ Water)
https://www.cleanteqwater.com/technology/phosphix/
Updated 2/2024
Input materials
Liquor stream with soluble phosphorus < 100 mg/l P-PO4 (including very low P concentrations) and pH in the range 6-8.
Output products
Calcium phosphate (hydroxyapatite) for use as slow-release fertiliser or in fertiliser production
Treated water with <0.1 mg/l P-PO4
Process description
Phosphate is selectively removed to < 0.1 mg/L using proprietary continuous ion exchange. Phosphate is desorbed using calcium-rich sodium hydroxide into a concentrated stream. Hydroxyapatite is crystallised from this stream.
The recovered regenerant stream is reused for desorption, limiting chemical consumption and waste production
Operating status
The first full scale PHOSPHIX plant is currently being delivered for an industrial customer in Ireland. The contract award follows a successful on-site piloting campaign that verified that PHOSPHIX® can consistently remove phosphate from the plant’s wastewater to below the nominated limit of 1 mg/L P-PO₄ (phosphate as phosphorus). The Plant will treat MBR permeate from an industrial wastewater treatment system, polishing phosphate without producing a liquid brine waste stream or large volumes of ferric phosphate sludge. Instead, the Plant will generate a small volume of solid phosphate by-product that can be sold or disposed of safely and cost-effectively.