Chapter 9
Struvite Crystallization: An Effective
Technology for Nitrogen Recovery
in Landfill Leachate
Mohamad Darwish, Shaymaa Mustafa, Azmi Aris, Aeslina Abdul Kadir,
and Mohamed Zuhaili Mohamed Najib
Abstract The presence of different sorts of nutrients in wastewater raises the concern on adopting effective treatment techniques, to prevent potential adverse impacts
on the environment’s components, as well as to recycle nutrients for useful applications. Nitrogen is a popular nutrient that often existed abundantly in landfill leachate.
Struvite (MgNH 4 PO 4 · 6H 2 O, MAP) crystallization is a common technology that is
widely applied for nitrogen recovery in landfill leachate, due to its high efficiency,
simplicity and environmental sustainability. This chapter emphasizes the role of MAP
technology in the treatment of NH 4 −N in landfill leachate. Moreover, the physicochemical fundamentals of MAP crystallization are explained thoroughly. In addition,
the recent enhancements and related developments are discussed in detail. Besides,
the contribution of MAP technology in treatment of other wastewater parameters is
also discussed. In order to point out the cost-effectiveness of this technology, the
options of cost saving and reduction are analyzed through this chapter.
Keywords Struvite · Nitrogen · Phosphorus · Landfill leachate · Crystallization ·
Fertilizer
M. Darwish (B) · A. Aris · M. Z. M. Najib
School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM),
81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
e-mail: sjmohamad@utm.my
S. Mustafa
UTM Centre for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (UTMCIAM), Ibnu Sina Institute for
Scientific and Industrial Research (ISI-SIR), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310
Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
A. Aris
Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security (IPASA), Research Institute for
Sustainable Environment (RISE), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310 Skudai, Johor,
Malaysia
A. A. Kadir
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM),
86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. A. S. Al-Gheethi et al. (eds.), Prospects of Fresh Market Wastes Management
in Developing Countries, Water Science and Technology Library 92,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42641-5_9
143
Struvite Crystallization: An Effective
Technology for Nitrogen Recovery
in Landfill Leachate
Mohamad Darwish, Shaymaa Mustafa, Azmi Aris, Aeslina Abdul Kadir,
and Mohamed Zuhaili Mohamed Najib
Abstract The presence of different sorts of nutrients in wastewater raises the concern on adopting effective treatment techniques, to prevent potential adverse impacts
on the environment’s components, as well as to recycle nutrients for useful applications. Nitrogen is a popular nutrient that often existed abundantly in landfill leachate.
Struvite (MgNH 4 PO 4 · 6H 2 O, MAP) crystallization is a common technology that is
widely applied for nitrogen recovery in landfill leachate, due to its high efficiency,
simplicity and environmental sustainability. This chapter emphasizes the role of MAP
technology in the treatment of NH 4 −N in landfill leachate. Moreover, the physicochemical fundamentals of MAP crystallization are explained thoroughly. In addition,
the recent enhancements and related developments are discussed in detail. Besides,
the contribution of MAP technology in treatment of other wastewater parameters is
also discussed. In order to point out the cost-effectiveness of this technology, the
options of cost saving and reduction are analyzed through this chapter.
Keywords Struvite · Nitrogen · Phosphorus · Landfill leachate · Crystallization ·
Fertilizer
M. Darwish (B) · A. Aris · M. Z. M. Najib
School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM),
81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
e-mail: sjmohamad@utm.my
S. Mustafa
UTM Centre for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (UTMCIAM), Ibnu Sina Institute for
Scientific and Industrial Research (ISI-SIR), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310
Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
A. Aris
Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security (IPASA), Research Institute for
Sustainable Environment (RISE), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310 Skudai, Johor,
Malaysia
A. A. Kadir
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM),
86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. A. S. Al-Gheethi et al. (eds.), Prospects of Fresh Market Wastes Management
in Developing Countries, Water Science and Technology Library 92,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42641-5_9
143