Phosphate removal and recovery by a novel electrolytic process

The possibility of removing and recovering phosphate from wastewater by a novel electrolytic process was investigated experimentally. In the process, ion electrodes are immersed in synthetic wastewater and direct current (DC) is applied to coagulate phosphate on the surface of the anode. Experimental results demonstrated that at electric current densities ranged from 0.001 to 0.1 mA/cm², phosphate was removed and recovered as phosphate-rich aggregates formed on the anode surface. Decreases in phosphate concentration at bulk liquid were in fairly good agreement with the amounts of phosphate in the aggregates. Moreover, the removal rate of phosphate was increased with increasing electric current. In addition, as heavy metal anions such as Cu²⁺ deposit on the counter electrode (cathode), it was thought that relatively pure phosphate could be obtained by the present process.