Removal of phosphate from Eshidiya industrial wastewater by sedimentation and enhanced sedimentation

Abstract Treatment of industrial wastewater from Eshidiya phosphate mining in Jordan was studied in this work for reuse possibilities. The wastewater resulted from flotation cells contains sediments, mainly phosphate. Sedimentation and enhanced sedimentation using anionic polyelectrolyte and alum were used to remove the sediments. The optimum dosage of anionic polyelectrolyte was found to be 400 ppm corresponding to a turbidity of 3.3 NTU. The measured target zeta potential was found to be −58.7 mv at this dosage. Alum was found to be effective coagulant but after performing a preliminary sedimentation step to reduce the wastewater turbidity.