Exploring the Potential for Concentration of Nutrients from Urine Using Solar Evaporation and Carbon Dioxide Trapping of Ammonia

Abstract

Nutrients derived from urine such as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium constitute valuable sources of fertilizers needed for growing plants and as alternatives to commercial fertilizers. Concentration of nutrients available from urine provides advantages of reducing the volume of transportation, the health risk and making nutrient application to soil stable and suitable. An exploratory review of a possible technology for concentration of nutrients from urine using solar power assisted evaporation and carbon dioxide trapping of evaporated ammonia is discussed in this paper as a potentially viable technology for concentrating nutrients from urine as well as another sequestration option to reduce carbon foot print in the environment.