Effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WTP) can contain residual phosphorus concentration above the recommended limiting values and it could have a high environmental impact (e.g. eutrophication as a result of excess nutrients). In order to produce an effluent suitable for stream discharge, electrochemical techniques have been explored at the laboratory pilot scale, for total phosphorus (P tot ) removal from spiked municipal wastewater (MWW). The MWW was an effluent provided from a biofiltration process installed at the Quebec Urban Community WTP. The effects of current density, retention time and initial P tot concentration were investigated using a bipolar electrolytic cell made of mild steel electrodes. Effectiveness was measured in terms of P tot reduction. The amount of residual sludge produced and energy consumed have been also considered. Results showed that the best performances of P tot removal from MWW were obtained while combining electrocoagulation with flocculation. Under optimal conditions, electrolysis was operated at a current density of 38.2mA/cm 2 through 20min of treatment and then, the electrocoagulated-effluent was flocculated using a cationic polymer (10mg/l) before filtration. At least, 97% of P tot was removed regardless of the initial P tot concentration imposed (5.0–50mg/l) in MWW. The optimal conditions determined for P tot removal, including energy consumption, electrode consumption and metallic sludge disposal, involved a total cost varying from 0.24 to 0.35$CAN per cubic meter of treated MWW in continue mode operation.
