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Volume 13
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10.3390/separations13060171
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Review

Evolution of P Discharge Regulations in China: Necessity Analysis and Advances in Chemical P Removal Technologies for Wastewater Treatment

by
Tao Zhang
1 and
Yonghong Zhao
2,*
1
Faculty of Environmental Engineering, School of Materials Science & Food Engineering, Zhongshan Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Zhongshan 528400, China
2
School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Gannan University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Separations 2026, 13(6), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations13060171 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 2 May 2026 / Revised: 7 June 2026 / Accepted: 8 June 2026 / Published: 9 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Separations)
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Abstract

As eutrophication worsens, countries including China, the US, France, Sweden, and South Korea have tightened phosphorus (P) discharge limits for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This paper first reviews China’s evolving P regulations, then classifies P removal technologies into physical, chemical, biological, and combined methods. Analysis of current WWTPs in China shows that biological P removal alone is insufficient, making chemical P removal (CPR) a necessary supplement or primary approach. Thus, the review focuses on CPR technologies: chemical precipitation, ion exchange, adsorption, electrocoagulation, magnetic methods, hybrid biological-chemical methods, and P recovery technologies. For each, the principles, materials, application conditions, advantages, and disadvantages are discussed. This review aims to guide the selection, application, and future research of CPR processes.
Keywords: chemical phosphorus removal; ion exchange; adsorption chemical phosphorus removal; ion exchange; adsorption
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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhang, T.; Zhao, Y. Evolution of P Discharge Regulations in China: Necessity Analysis and Advances in Chemical P Removal Technologies for Wastewater Treatment. Separations 2026, 13, 171. https://doi.org/10.3390/separations13060171

AMA Style

Zhang T, Zhao Y. Evolution of P Discharge Regulations in China: Necessity Analysis and Advances in Chemical P Removal Technologies for Wastewater Treatment. Separations. 2026; 13(6):171. https://doi.org/10.3390/separations13060171

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhang, Tao, and Yonghong Zhao. 2026. "Evolution of P Discharge Regulations in China: Necessity Analysis and Advances in Chemical P Removal Technologies for Wastewater Treatment" Separations 13, no. 6: 171. https://doi.org/10.3390/separations13060171

APA Style

Zhang, T., & Zhao, Y. (2026). Evolution of P Discharge Regulations in China: Necessity Analysis and Advances in Chemical P Removal Technologies for Wastewater Treatment. Separations, 13(6), 171. https://doi.org/10.3390/separations13060171

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