Patent ID: 8669396

Claim:
A process for the recovery of phosphorus values and salt impurities from an aqueous waste stream comprising organic phosphorus compounds comprising N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine or a salt thereof, and salt impurities, the process comprising: contacting the aqueous waste stream and at least one separation membrane to form a retentate comprising N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine or a salt thereof and a permeate, wherein the retentate is enriched in N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine or a salt thereof relative to the permeate; oxidizing one or more compounds containing phosphorus and organic carbon present in a feed stream comprising components of the aqueous waste stream to produce a phosphate-containing cake, wherein the permeate constitutes at least a portion of the feed stream; contacting within an acidification zone the phosphate-containing cake and an acidic liquid medium to form a solution comprising at least one inorganic salt and phosphoric acid; and precipitating salt crystals from the salt-containing solution to form an aqueous product mixture comprising salt crystals and a mother liquor comprising phosphoric acid.