Nitrogen and Phosphorus Recovery from Wastewater

Abstract

Use of nitrogen-and phosphorus-based synthetic fertilizers shows an increasing trend, but this has led to largescale influx of reactive nitrogen in the environment, with serious implications on human health and the environment. On the other hand, phosphorus, a non-renewable resource, faces a serious risk of depletion. Therefore, recovery and reuse of nitrogen and phosphorus is highly desirable. For nitrogen recovery, an ion exchange/adsorption-based process provides concentrated streams of reactive nitrogen. Bioelectrochemical systems efficiently and effectively recover nitrogen as NH 3 (g) or (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 . Air stripping of ammonia from anaerobic digestate has been reported to recover 70-92 % of nitrogen. Membrane separation provides recovery in the order of 99-100 % with no secondary pollutant in the permeate.With regard to phosphorus (P) removal, physical filtration and membrane processes have the potential to reduce suspended P to trace amounts but provide minimal dissolved P removal. Chemical precipitation can remove 80-99 % P in wastewater streams and recover it in the form of fertilizer (struvite). Acid hydrolysis can convert recovered P into usable phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers. Physical-chemical adsorption and ion exchange media can reduce P to trace or non-detect concentrations, with minimal waste production and high reusability. Biological assimilation through constructed wetlands removes both N (83-87 %) and P (70-85 %) from wastewaters, with recovery in the form of fish/animal feeds and biofuel. The paper discusses methods and important results on recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater.

Evaluation of Different Clinoptilolite Zeolites as Adsorbent for Ammonium Removal from Highly Concentrated Synthetic Wastewater

“…For instance, sludge water from anaerobic digesters is a possible source of ammonium due to high ammonium-N (NH 4 -N) concentrations of around 1000 mg/L and low volume flows which allow a partial flow treatment. Recovery methods such as air stripping, bioelectrochemical systems, membrane separation, and ion exchange have been thoroughly investigated [6]. The zeolite clinoptilolite (CLI) is known to be a very good ion exchanger, as it consists of a three-dimensional structure formed of AlO 4 -and SiO 4 tetrahedral, which are connected by a common oxygen atom.…”

Recovery of High Value‐Added Nutrients from Fruit and Vegetable Industrial Wastewater

“…However, it may lead to risk of denaturation and products usually require further purification due to the precipitation which is not very selective (Cheng et al., ). Now, studies have focused on nitrogen and phosphorus recovery from industrial wastewater (Sengupta, Nawaz, & Beaudry, ), and unfortunately few studies on protein recovery from the wastewater that is similar to wastewater of FVPI, rich in macromolecule organic components, can be used as the reference (Yang, Sun, Mengyan, & Wang, ).…”

“…Now, studies have focused on nitrogen and phosphorus recovery from industrial wastewater C 2019 Institute of Food Technologists ® Vol. 18, 2019 r Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety 1395 (Sengupta, Nawaz, & Beaudry, 2015), and unfortunately few studies on protein recovery from the wastewater that is similar to wastewater of FVPI, rich in macromolecule organic components, can be used as the reference (Yang, Sun, Mengyan, & Wang, 2016). Solvent extraction.…”

UN World Water Development Report 2017: "Wastewater: The untapped resource"

“…Recovered biogas has successfully been used as an energy source for the treatment plant itself, in combined heat and power generation (CHP), or cogeneration, and even as transportation fuel (WWAP, 2014). Reintroducing recovered phosphorus and nitrogen as fertilizer would drop the price of these products and contribute to lowering the overall cost of food (Sengupta et al, 2015). Methods are now available for recovering phosphorus from wastewater and for transforming septage into pelletized fertilizer at low cost (Hanjra et al, 2015a).…”

“…Phosphorus recovery will likely become even more cost-competitive with the rising cost of mining finite rock-phosphate . Apart from tangible economic benefits, improved nitrogen recovery would also reduce the nitrogen loading to the atmosphere (Sengupta et al, 2015). Although still in early stages of development, innovative technologies for recovering other valuable materials are also emerging, such as metal recovery via bioelectrochemical processes (Wang and Ren, 2014).…”