Nutrient Removal — Process Challenge

Phosphorus / Phosphate Removal (Nutrient Compliance)

Tightening discharge permits force municipal and industrial plants to dose metal-salt coagulants for chemical phosphorus removal to meet low total-P limits. It is a recurring, permit-driven bulk coagulant demand distinct from generic turbidity clarification
Updated Jun 2026
Solution Approach

RawSource supplies the base chemicals that go into these programs. We can help with product selection, grade matching, and sourcing from multiple origins for supply security.

Typical Treatment Workflow
1
Water & System Assessment
Characterize the water and the system — hardness, alkalinity, pH, TDS/conductivity, microbial load, and the metallurgy and temperatures of the equipment being protected.
2
Program & Chemistry Selection
Match coagulants, flocculants, scale and corrosion inhibitors, biocides, or pH adjusters to the water profile and discharge limits, factoring compatibility with any existing program.
3
Jar Testing & Dosing
Confirm coagulant and flocculant dose and feed point by jar test, set inhibitor and biocide treat rates, and size packaging (drums, totes, bulk) to consumption.
4
Monitoring & Control
Track residuals, turbidity, ORP, corrosion coupons, and effluent compliance, adjusting chemistry and dose as feedwater and load change.
Recommended Chemistries (6)
Ferric Chloride
CAS 7705-08-0
Acids & Salts
High-performance coagulant
1773 (FERRIC CHLORIDE) · Class
In catalog. Ferric iron binds orthophosphate as insoluble ferric phosphate that settles or filters out; the workhorse P-removal coagulant
Melting Point: 306 °C   Boiling Point: 315 °C at 760 mmHg (Decomposes)   Density: 2.8 at 20 °C (anhydrous solid)
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Ferrous Sulfate
CAS 7720-78-7
Acids & Salts
pH Adjustment
In catalog. Lower-cost iron source; iron precipitates phosphate after oxidation, commonly dosed to aeration basins
Physical Description: Ferrous sulfate appears as a greenish or yellow…   Appearance: White orthorhombic crystals, hygroscopic   Boiling Point: > 300 °C
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Aluminium Sulfate (alum)
CAS 10043-01-3
Acids & Salts
Standard alum coagulant
3264 (ALUMINUM SULFATE, SOLUTION) · Class
In catalog. Aluminum precipitates phosphate as aluminum phosphate and co-coagulates fine solids
Melting Point: -16 °C   Boiling Point: 101 °C at 760 mmHg   Density: 2.71 at 20 °C 1.7 at 20 °C
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Poly Aluminum Chloride (PAC)
CAS 1327-41-9
Specialty Additives
Chelation / Sequestration
In catalog. Pre-hydrolyzed aluminum coagulant that removes phosphate with less alkalinity consumption and lower sludge volume than alum
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Aluminum Chlorohydrate (ACH)
CAS 12042-91-0
Specialty Additives
Conditioning
In catalog. Highly basic, high-aluminum coagulant for phosphate precipitation with minimal pH depression
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Sodium aluminate
CAS 1302-42-7
Alkaline aluminum source that precipitates phosphate while adding alkalinity, suited to low-alkalinity waters where alum would crash pH
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