Thermodynamics of Struvite Formation

Abstract

Struvite is a phosphate mineral that can form hard-scale deposits in the recycle components of livestock waste management systems that utilize recycled lagoon effluent to transport waste. Previous research of struvite formation in piping systems has been hindered by the presence of erroneous solubility constant values in the literature and the use of a set of less-than-comprehensive equilibrium equations. This article identifies the erroneous solubility product constant commonly found in text books and documents an apparently correct value.