Effect of Initial Solution pH on Solubility and Morphology of Struvite Crystals

  • Mr Eko Ariyanto, Curtin University, Australia
  • Prof Ming Ang, Curtin University, Australia
  • Mr Tushar Sen, Curtin University, Australia

Struvite is known to form a hard scale in specific areas of wastewater treatment plants. Besides causing problems, struvite can also be used as a fertilizer. Good and reliable solubility data is essential for controlling the crystallisation of struvite. One of the factors that affect the crystallisation of struvite is pH. This study describes the effect of initial solution pH on the solubility and morphology of struvite crystals. Methodology used in this study was to dissolve struvite crystals in aqueous solutions at various initial pH. The equilibrium solution pH of struvite dissolution was found to stay within the range of 8 to 11. This pH can be used to predict struvite formation in the solution. A study was also made to investigate how the morphology of the struvite crystals are affected when they are exposed to solutions at different initial pH values. The original struvite crystals as well as the residual crystals left after the solubility tests were examined by both SEM and EDS. It was found that the shape of crystals were amorphous, rhombohedral, and hexagonal for initial pH 3, 7, and 11, respectively, and pH 5 and 9 was platelets and spherical. The morphology of the original crystals was orthorhombic before subjecting them to dissolution for 24 hours.