Phosphorus and eutrophication in water

• Main Authors: Abdul Salim, Nur Atikah, Abdullah, Noorul Hudai, Ahmad, Noraziah, Puteh, Mohd Hafiz
• Other Authors: Puteh, Mohd Hafiz Puteh
• Format: Book Section
• Language: English
• Published: Penerbit UTM Press 2020
• Subjects: TD419-428 Water pollution; TD429.5-480.7 Water purification. Water treatment and conditioning. Saline water conversion
• Online Access: http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/2016/1/Chapter%2008%20Phosphorus%20and%20Eutrophication%20in%20Water.pdf; http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/2016/

Since early 1970, the presence of phosphorus (P) in domestic wastewater has attracted attention due to the awareness of its adverse impacts on the environment, specifically in receiving water such as a river. In the wastewater treatment system, P is a crucial nutrient for bacteria required to degrade and biologically stabilise the organic wastes (Hussain et al., 2001). P is a key nutrient that stimulates the growth of algae and other biological organisms (Mainstone and Parr, 2002). P appears exclusively as orthophosphate, condensed phosphates (polyphosphates), and organically bound phosphate. Condensed phosphates are utilised in cleaning products, and organic phosphates are elements of the body and food waste (Howard, 1985). According to Tjandraatmadja et al. (2010), household products can be a significant contributor to the P load in domestic wastewater. The release of high quantities of P from domestic wastewater treatment plants is of concern, as it is one of the key nutrients that have the potential to contribute to eutrophication in surface water, which can result in excessive growth of algae (Daniel et al., 1994).