The application of ferrate for sewage treatment: pilot- to full-scale trials

This paper aims to study a relative new technology, the online generation and application of
ferrate(VI), for sewage treatment, from pilot to full scale trials at Hailsham North Wastewater
Treatment Plant of Southern Water Ltd of UK. The work presented in this paper has significant
impact on the use of ferrate(VI) in water and waste water treatment practice; the online production
and application of ferrate(VI) resolves problems of the instability and needs no transportation. The
current efficiency of ferrate(VI) generation was up to 70% through the developed system, which is
relatively high. For achieving the same phosphorus removal target from the crude sewage, the
ferrate dose required was in a very lower range, 0.01 - 0.2 mg Fe6+/L in comparison with high doses
of ferric sulphate; these will reduce the chemical demand and sludge production and therefore result
in a low operating cost and generate substantial cost saving in treating sewage.