Phosphorus inputs (P-inputs) are a threat to surface water quality

Environmentally friendly phosphorus
removal in anaerobe effluent by means of
the struvite process – ANPHOS
LIFE03 ENV/NL/000465 LAYMAN’S REPORT
Environmentally friendly phosphorus removal in
anaerobe effluent by means of the struvite process ANPHOS
Lamb-Weston/Meijer
Lamb-Weston/Meijer V.O.F. (LWM) is a joint venture of ConAgra, Inc. and the Meijer Potato
Group. Since the 1994 start up of the joint venture, LWM has become the fastest-growing potato
company in the EU. LWM has three factories operating in the Netherlands: Bergen op Zoom,
Kruiningen en Oosterbierum. The manufacturing facility in Kruiningen is one of the largest in the
world. The total production capacity for LWM in The Netherlands is over 500.000 tons finished
products (French fries and other frozen products) and 30.000 tons dehydrated potato flakes.
Products are exported to the whole of continental Europe, the UK, the Middle East and
South/Central America.
LWM maintains a system in which aspects such as safety, quality, health, welfare, hygiene and
the environment are an integrated part of performance. LWM has clear policies which serve as
guidelines for the whole organisation. In its SHHE (Safety, Health, Hygiene and Environment)
policy the prevention of air, water and soil pollution, as well as noise and other pollution, are of
paramount importance.
Waste water treatment at LWM
In the production process water is
used for e.g. cleaning and
transporting the potatoes, cutting,
and blanching. The waste water that
is produced in the production
process is treated (see figure 1)
before it is discharged to the surface
water. This waste water treatment is
necessary to clean the water from
organic substances like starch, fats
and remove phosphorus and
nitrogen.
Figure 1: the place of the ANPHOS in
the total waste water treatment
LIFE03 ENV/NL/000465 ANPHOS
page 2
Scope of the project
In this project LWM demonstrates a new technology to remove phosphorus from industrial waste
water. In comparison to conventional technology this new technology has a number of significant
benefits.
• Less waste is produced
• Less input of chemicals (iron chloride) is needed
• Less energy input is required
• The rest product from the new process can be applied as a fertiliser in agriculture,
resulting in closed cycle for phosphorus.
The demonstration of the new technology was successful. This is underlined by the fact that new
ANPHOS installations are build by other companies in The Netherlands. Based on studies carried
out by the Dutch organisation of potato processors (VAVI) the ANPHOS-process has been
designated as the best available technology for phosphorus removal from waste water.
Environmental issue: The importance of phosphorus removal from waste water
Phosphorus inputs (P-inputs) are a threat to surface water quality. The discharge of too much
phosphorus (in combination with nitrogen) to surface water leads to extensive growth of water
plants, algae, and plankton. This process is called eutrophication. It disturbs the eco-system and
damages the biodiversity and flora. As a result, the plants use up more oxygen when they
decompose, and this leads to oxygen depletion in the water resulting in the death of fish and
other aquatic creatures.
Phosphorus inputs to surface water can come from a number of sources like urban waste water,
industries, and agriculture. Because of the damaging effects of phosphorus European policies
and the policies of the Member states are aimed at preventing P-inputs to surface waters. This is
done by implementing waste water treatment (urban as well as industrial), and other measures
like the replacement of phosphorus in detergents by other active substances.
The conventional technology for P-removal in industrial waste water treatment consists of treating
the waste water with iron chloride (chemical phosphate removal). In this process the phosphorus
reacts with the iron to form iron phosphates which precipitate. A significant drawback of this
process is the formation of large amounts of sludge contaminated with metal salts. This sludge
can only be disposed of by landfill, incineration or dumping at sea.
LIFE03 ENV/NL/000465 ANPHOS
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New technology: ANPHOS
Phosphorus removal (dephosphatation) in waste water can also be carried out by treating the
waste water with magnesium oxide. When the waste water is treated with magnesium oxide,
struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate, MAP) is formed which can be applied as a fertiliser
in agriculture, resulting in a closed phosphorus cycle.
Magnesiumammoniumphosphate (MAP, struvite) reaction
2+
Mg
+
2-
+ NH4 + HPO4 + 6H2O
=>
MgNH4PO4.6H2O + H
+
The ANPHOS technology has been implemented on a full scale at the waste water treatment
plant at the Kruiningen site of LWM (see figure 1).
Figure 2: ANPHOS installation
The process of struvite forming comprises the following steps (figure 2):
1 Aeration to adjust the pH of the effluent to pH 8,5 the optimal pH for the reaction
2 Aerated effluent is pumped into reaction and sedimentation tank.
3 Addition of solid MgO
4 Reaction combined with fast stirring
5 Sedimentation combined with slow stirring
6 Effluent is pumped to the aerobe waste water treatment
7 Struvite is pumped to the dewatering unit for further processing.
LIFE03 ENV/NL/000465 ANPHOS
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Environmental benefits
The main environmental benefit is that ANPHOS leads to a closed phosphorus cycle (figure 3)
Other benefits include:
• Production of less waste
• Less input of chemicals (iron chloride) needed
• Less energy input required
Struvite (MAP) is applied as
fertiliser in potato growing
Phosphate inputs in the
form of fertilizers are 65 kg.
/ hectare for the growth of
potatoes.
P
90% of the phosphate load
of the waste water reacts to
form struvite
50 tons potatoes / hectare
leads to 40% waste material
with approximately 30 kg.
phosphates
Figure 3: Closed phosphorus cycle
Successful dissemination
Dissemination activities in this project were very successful. As a result of these activities other
companies will invest in ANPHOS installations:
- Two new installations to be build by Lamb-Weston/Meijer in Bergen op Zoom en
Oosterbierum;
- One installation to be build by an other Dutch potato processor, one installation to be
build by a Dutch vegetable processor;
- Based on studies carried out by the Dutch organisation of potato processors (VAVI) the
ANPHOS-process has been designated as the best available technology for phosphorus
removal from waste water. Plans for three other installations are pending
- Plans for two installations in Belgium.
LIFE03 ENV/NL/000465 ANPHOS
page 5
Colsen winner of the Emergo innovation award
De Emergo is de Zeeuwse innovatieprijs. Deze wordt jaarlijks uitgereikt aan een Zeeuws bedrijf dat
heeft aangetoond een innovatie te kunnen realiseren en hiervan zichbare vruchten te plukken. Ieder
jaar worden er zo'n 10 bedrijven genomineerd. Van deze bedrijven worden korte filmpjes gemaakt
en uitgezonden op Omroep Zeeland. Tijdens het Zeeuwse Innovatie Evenment (ZIE) op 23 juni
2005 heeft de uitreiking plaats gevonden.
Innovatieprijs Emergo 2005 gaat naar Adviesburo voor milieutechniek Colsen
Op 23 juni organiseerden Syntens en Hogeschool Zeeland het jaarlijkse Zeeuwse Innovatie
Evenement (ZIE) bij de hogeschool aan de Edisonweg in Vlissingen. Tijdens dit evenement
werden de prestigieuze Emergo en Luctor prijzen uitgereikt. Adviesburo voor milieutechniek
Colsen liep weg met de Emergo prijs en de Luctor-winnaar werd Seafarm.
Emergo en Luctor
De Emergo is de Zeeuwse Innovatieprijs, die jaarlijks wordt uitgereikt aan een Zeeuws bedrijf dat
een succesvolle innovatie heeft gerealiseerd. Er waren twaalf genomineerde bedrijven. De jury
koos onder leiding van de gedeputeerde van Economische Zaken, mevrouw Le Roy, het meest
innovatieve bedrijf van het afgelopen jaar. Voor dit jaar was dat dus Adviesburo Colsen die volgens
gedeputeerde Le Roy het beste scoorde op alle punten van innovatie. Met name de wijze waarop
het procédé om afvalwater te zuiveren en waarbij de restproducten zoals kunstmest kunnen worden
hergebruikt en het maatschappelijk belang werden daarbij benadrukt.
Voorafgaand aan het symposium waar de prijzen werden uitgereikt, zijn in het programma Nieuw
Zeeland van Omroep Zeeland alle bedrijven in beeld gebracht. Naast de keuze van de officiële
Emergo konden de kijkers van Omroep Zeeland via internet bepalen welk van de genomineerde
bedrijven in aanmerking kwam voor de Publieks Emergo.
A perfect example of the succesfull dissemination activities is the winning of the
Emergo innovation award for the ANPHOS project by engineering firm Colsen.
According to the jury chaiman Le Roy, Colsen scored best on all points of
innovation.
More information
Information about the ANPHOS process can be obtained from the engineering firm that cooperated with LWM in this project:
Adviesburo Colsen b.v.
Kreekzoom 5
4561 GX Hulst
The Netherlands
(
7
*
:
+31(0)114 311548
+31(0)114 316011
info@colsen.nl
www.colsen.nl
LIFE03 ENV/NL/000465 ANPHOS
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