Coagulation/precipitation process has been widely used for the removal of phosphate within domestic wastewater. Although Fe and Al are typical coagulants used for phosphate removal, these have some shortages such as color problem and low sedimentation velocity. In this study, both Fe and Al were used to overcome the shortages caused by using single one, and anionic polymer coagulant was additionally used to enhance sedimentation velocity of the precipitate formed. Batch experiments using a jar test were conducted with real wastewater, which was an effluent of the second sedimentation tank in domestic wastewater treatment plant. Response Surface Methodology was used to examine the responsibility of each parameter on phosphate removal as well as to optimize the dosage of the three coagulants. Economic analysis was also done on the basis of selling prices of the coagulants in the field. Phosphate removal efficiency of Fe(III) was 30% higher than those of Fe(II). Considering chemical price, optimum dosage for achieving residual phosphate concentration below 0.2 mg/L were determined to be 18.14 mg/L of Fe(III), 2.60 mg/L of Al, and 1.64 mg/L of polymer coagulant.

This study was carried out for characterization of MIO synthesized in our laboratory by co-precipitation method and applied isotherm and kinetic models for adsorption properties. XRD analysis were conducted to find crystal structure of synthesized MIO. Further SEM and XPS analysis was performed before and after phosphate adsorption, and BET analysis for surface characterization. Phosphate stock solution was prepared by KH2PO4 for characterization of phosphate adsorption, and batch experiment was conducted using 50 ml conical tube. Langmuir and Freundlich models were applied based on adsorption equilibrium test of MIO by initial phosphate solution. Pseudo first order and pseudo second order models were applied for interpretation of kinetic model by temperature. Surface area and pore size of MIO were found 89.6 m2/g and 16 nm respectively. And, the determination coefficient (R2) value of Langmuir model was 0.9779, which was comparatively higher than that of Freundlich isotherm model 0.9340.