ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effect of Copper and Zinc Ions on Struvite
Nucleation and Crystal Growth Kinetics
in Various Process Environments
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1
Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw, Poland
2
Silesian University of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering and Process Design, Gliwice, Poland
Submission date: 2019-02-19
Acceptance date: 2019-07-21
Online publication date: 2020-02-13
Publication date: 2020-03-31
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(3):2225-2233
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ABSTRACT
We determined the kinetic parameters of struvite continuous reaction crystallization in aqueous
solutions of phosphate(V) ions with selected impurities: copper or/and zinc ions. The simplified kinetic
model for ideal continuous MSMPR (mixed suspension mixed product removal) crystallizer – SIG
(size-independent growth) model frame was adopted for the calculations. Nuclei population densities,
nucleation rates and crystal linear growth rates of nuclei up to macroscopic size range were determined
based on crystal size distributions of the solid products. We concluded that within the assumed process
parameter ranges the linear growth rate of struvite crystals varied within the 4.11∙10–9-1.62∙10–8 m/s
range in the presence of copper ions and within the 4.53∙10–9-1.51∙10–8 m/s range in the presence of zinc
ions. Nucleation rate, however, varied within the 6.8∙107-2.0∙109 1/(sm3) and 6.3∙107-1.7∙109 1/(sm3) ranges,
appropriately. These are large differences demonstrating the significant influence of impurities together
with process technological parameters on struvite continuous reaction crystallization kinetics and thus –
in consequence – on the manufactured product quality. We also experimentally proved that the effect of
copper ions on struvite reaction crystallization is more advantageous than zinc ions action.