Sorption of phosphorus released from agriculture and productive recycling using reactive filter materials

Project Leader: Gunno Renman

Participants: Jon Petter Gustafsson, Agnieszka Renman 

Keywords: Phosphorous leaching, Reactive filter materials, Sustainable development, Wastewater treatment 

Period: 2010-01-01 - 2012-12-31

Funding: SLF (Swedish Farmers’ Foundation for Agricultural Research)

Project description

This project aim to transfer the experience and technology of using reactive bed filter materials in wastewater treatment to the treatment of agricultural drainage water to prevent phosphorus (P) loss from tile-drained and ditch-drained land. The low concentration of P and the occasional peak flow in drainage water are of concern for treatment with reactive filter media. Clogging of filters is a phenomenon that often occurs so the combination of high P sorption and large treatment volumes is a challenge for development of a long-lasting filter. The specific aims of the project are to estimate the P sorption capacities of selected filter materials, to understand the mechanisms responsible for P removal in order to recommend producers how to up-grade their materials, to estimate the solubility of bound P and discuss its plant availability, to evaluate two kinds of filter materials in specially designed filter units used under field conditions.