P-recovery by secondary nucleation and growth of calcium phosphates on magnetite mineral

Precipitation of calcium phosphates from supersaturated solutions seeded with magnetite powder (magnetite mineral, Fe3O4) has been studied in lab scale in the pH range 6.9–7.7. While the initial concentration of phosphorus was 1.29 mmol/l, the initial molar ratio of Ca/P was taken one to three times of the stoichiometric calcium to phosphorus ratio of hydroxyapatite. To bring out the secondary nucleation, the precipitation system was allowed to relax and pH of the solution was maintained at the initially preset value. The period before base was added for the first time during relaxation was defined as lagtime and sodium hydroxide added during the relaxation was evaluated as the degree of growth. The lagtime was found to be dependent on the solution pH, therefore on the initial amount of precipitation. Coverage of seed surface by heterogeneous nucleation is essential. Since all precipitation by secondary nucleation took place on the seed material, precipitation during relaxation was due to growth of the solid phase on the seed surfaces. It was found that there was a pH range in which growth rate was directly proportional to pH. However, at lower residual concentrations of phosphorus, despite relatively higher pH, the growth rate was decreased.