Research Article Open Access

Nucleation and Crystal Growth Rates of Struvite in DTM Type Crystallizer with a Jet-Pump of Descending Suspension Flow in a Mixing Chamber

Joanna Koralewska1, Krzysztof Piotrowski2, Boguslawa Wierzbowska1 and Andrzej Matynia1
  • 1 Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27,50–370 Wroclaw, Poland
  • 2 Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, ks. M. Strzody 7, 44–101 Gliwice, Poland

Abstract

The kinetic data concerning reaction-crystallization of struvite from diluted water solutions of Mg2+, NH4+ and PO43- ions in a continuous DTM-type liquid jet-pump crystallizer with internal circulation of suspension are presented and discussed. The measurements were performed with the assumption of minimal value of unit power of a jet-pump’s feeding stream, providing thus a minimal level of internal circulation intensity. Nucleation and linear growth rates of struvite crystals were calculated on the basis of population density distributions of product particles. A mathematically convenient kinetic model for MSMPR crystallizer, making allowance for a size-dependent growth (SDG) phenomenon, was adopted for description of a complex process of precipitation integrated with crystals growth. It was concluded, that in the concentration range of magnesium ions in a feeding solution [Mg2+]RM = 0.1-2.0 mass % and, in stoichiometric proportions, phosphate ions [PO43-]RM = 0.39-7.81 mass % as well as the ammonium ions [NH4+]RM = 0.074-1.48 mass %, the Rojkowski hyperbolic SDG kinetic model proved to be an equation the best statistically fitted to the own experimental data.

American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Volume 2 No. 4, 2007, 260-266

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2007.260.266

Submitted On: 19 May 2007 Published On: 31 December 2007

How to Cite: Koralewska, J., Piotrowski, K., Wierzbowska, B. & Matynia, A. (2007). Nucleation and Crystal Growth Rates of Struvite in DTM Type Crystallizer with a Jet-Pump of Descending Suspension Flow in a Mixing Chamber. American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, 2(4), 260-266. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2007.260.266

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Keywords

  • struvite
  • reaction-crystallization
  • SDG MSMPR kinetic model
  • phosphate removal
  • phosphorus recycling