Phosphorus extraction and sludge dissolution by acid and alkali treatments of polyaluminum chloride (PAC) treated wastewater sludge.

Phosphorus (P) leaching characteristics of polyaluminium chlorides (PAC) treated wastewater sludge was investigated by wet chemicals (acid and alkali). Sludge fractionation showed non-apatite inorganic P was the dominant P (90.9% of TP) while apatite P only accounted for 3.7%. After 2h extraction with 1N NaOH or 2N HCl, 80.5% and 77.9% of total P was leached, while sludge dissolution reached 72.7% and 75.6%, respectively. Kinetic study with HCl and NaOH showed that P release and sludge dissolution follow first order reaction with rate constants of 0.50 and 0.35min(-1) (P release) and 0.47×10(-2) and 0.15×10(-2)min(-1) (sludge dissolution), respectively. Sequential extraction by NaOH/HCl leached 91.7% of the total P. This study will help in understanding the P release behavior of the PAC treated wastewater sludge.