Phosphorus removal is a vital process in wastewater treatment, and the Compass CPR (Chemical Phosphorus Removal) system stands out as an advanced solution for this challenge. Compass CPR is a state-of-the-art coagulation control system that utilises spectroscopy to determine organics, suspended solids, and phosphorus in real-time.

In our recent case study, we fully explored the power of online spectroscopy for chemical phosphate removal. By deploying an online submersible spectrophotometer, we managed to determine the total coagulant demand on the inlet to the wastewater treatment plant. It’s important to note that up to 70% of coagulant demand comes from organics and suspended solids. Hence, a control system that doesn’t account for these elements can never truly optimise phosphate removal or coagulant dosing.

The site involved in this case study, based in the UK, utilised a Compass CPR system to gain deeper insight into their influent and test the system’s capacity to output a total phosphorus and orthophosphate result without the use of reagents.

Traditional coagulation control systems in wastewater treatment employ an online colorimeter to measure orthophosphate and dose coagulant accordingly based on this concentration and the flow. This approach, however, carries several disadvantages which our Compass CPR system effectively overcomes.

By adopting the Compass CPR system, a wastewater site can achieve improved phosphate removal through several means:

Real-Time Coagulant Demand Measurement: The system allows for the measurement of total coagulant demand in real time, enabling precise coagulant dosing only when required, regardless of the source (organics, TSS, or phosphorus).

Online Phosphorus Measurement: Compass CPR allows for online phosphorus measurement using a direct insertion sensor and without reagents, eliminating issues related to filtration or the presence of reagents in the analyser.

Reduced Coagulant Dosing: The system leads to an overall reduction in coagulant dosing, which in turn lowers operational expenditure and minimises the risk of metal discharge compliance issues.

This case study clearly highlights the potential of the Compass CPR system in optimizing chemical phosphate removal, presenting a promising approach for wastewater treatment plants aiming for both cost-efficiency and effective treatment.