Molecular Insights into Novel Struvite–Hydrogel Composites for Simultaneous Ammonia and Phosphate Removal

Jung, Minkyoung; Wang, Ying; Ilavsky, Jan; Tang, Yinjie J.; Jun, Young-Shin

doi:10.1021/acs.est.4c11700

Molecular Insights into Novel Struvite–Hydrogel Composites for Simultaneous Ammonia and Phosphate Removal

Journal Article · Thu May 29 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c11700· OSTI ID:3001197

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Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO (United States)
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Struvite (NH₄MgPO₄·6H₂O) mineralization is an effective technique for removing ammonium and phosphate species from wastewater. However, its wider use faces obstacles because of the copresence of various pollutants in wastewater and the additional requirement for magnesium to achieve proper supersaturation conditions. To address these challenges, this study developed novel mineral–hydrogel composites that can remove ammonium and phosphate simultaneously via heterogeneous struvite and calcium phosphate (CaP) mineralization in hydrogel matrices. The composites include in situ formed struvite and CaP mineral seeds, decreasing the nucleation energy barrier of struvite and CaP formation and promoting their heterogeneous nucleation kinetics even under undersaturation conditions in bulk solution. The dual struvite and CaP seeded composites can simultaneously reduce the ammonium and total phosphate concentrations up to 60% (26.3 mg of N/g) and 91% (9.54 mg of P/g), respectively. Furthermore, the average particle sizes in composites were increased from 6.12 to 14.8 nm after wastewater treatment. Moreover, various ions commonly existing in wastewater did not significantly interfere with the removal of ammonium and phosphate. Thus, these new mineral–hydrogel composites can provide an innovative way to lower nutrient levels before discharge to streams. Moreover, encapsulating ammonium and phosphate in mineral-hydrogel composites enables their upcycling in agricultural or biorefinery applications.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF); USEPA

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-06CH11357; FE0032108

OSTI ID:: 3001197

Journal Information:: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 59; ISSN 1520-5851; ISSN 0013-936X

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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