On the other hand, metal compounds which bring about chemical precipitate-forming reactions with phosphorus, such as calcium, magnesium, aluminum or iron compounds for example, are added in the phosphorus chemical-removal process 45 to the solid/liquid separated w ater 42 from the membrane separating tank 41 and the phosphorus is precipitated and separated and recovered as a calcium phosphate compound, such as hydroxyapatite, magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP), ammonium phosphate or iron phosphate. In the case of FIG. 5, calcium hydroxide 44 is used for the metal compound and the hydroxyapatite 47 is produced.
The biological phosphorus-removing apparatus of the aforementioned Japanese Unexamined Laid Open Patent Application No. H l l - 5 7 7 7 3 is an apparatus for the biological removal of phosphorus by means of an anaerobic/aerobic method, in which there is provided a sludge solubilizing process to which some return sludge is introduced, a means of returning sludge which has been solubilized in said sludge solubilizing device to the anaerobic tank, and a phosphorus- removal reaction column into which the liquid from the anaerobic tank is introduced.