Abstract
The concept of circular economy applied to wastewater treatment sectors is a step toward sustainability. Considering the limitation on the availability of raw materials and resources for fertilizer manufacturing, nutrient recovery from wastewater is self-reliant from an economic and environmental perspective. In addition to that, eutrophication of water bodies is avoided by reducing the pollutant load on water bodies. This review described the methods and mechanisms of physicochemical, biological, and hybrid technologies for nutrient recovery from wastewater. The contemporary technologies have advantages over conventional methods due to the selective separation of nutrients in complex wastewater matrices containing other organic and metal ions. Bio-electrochemical systems (BES) and osmotic membrane bioreactors (OMBR) are very efficient and economic due to their low energy consumption. The economic dissection emphasizes the need for commercialization and quality checks on the recovered products. The efficiency of the nutrient recovery system and the quality of recovered products varies with the feedstock. The addition of a pre-treatment unit in the treatment or recovery train may enhance the efficiency of the nutrient recovery system.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ackerman, J. N., Zvomuya, F., Cicek, N., & Flaten, D. (2013). Evaluation of manure-derived struvite as a phosphorus source for canola. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 93(3), 419–424. https://doi.org/10.4141/cjps2012-207
Adam, C., Kley, G., & Simon, F. G. (2007). Thermal treatment of municipal sewage sludge aiming at marketable P-fertilisers. Materials Transactions, 48(12), 3056–3061. https://doi.org/10.2320/matertrans.MK200707
Alkhatib, A., Ayari, M. A., & Hawari, A. H. (2021). Fouling mitigation strategies for different foulants in membrane distillation. Chemical Engineering and Processing-Process Intensification, 167, 108517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2021.108517
Arif, M., Ilyas, M., Riaz, M., Ali, K., Shah, K., Haq, I. U., & Fahad, S. (2017). Biochar improves phosphorus use efficiency of organic-inorganic fertilizers, maize-wheat productivity and soil quality in a low fertility alkaline soil. Field Crops Research, 214, 25–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2017.08.018
Bach, I. M., Essich, L., Bauerle, A., & Müller, T. (2022). Efficiency of phosphorus fertilizers derived from recycled biogas digestate as applied to maize and ryegrass in soils with different pH. Agriculture, 12(3), 325. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12030325
Bauer, P. J., Szogi, A. A., & Vanotti, M. B. (2007). Agronomic effectiveness of calcium phosphate recovered from liquid swine manure.https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2006.0354
Bradford-Hartke, Z., Lant, P., & Leslie, G. (2012). Phosphorus recovery from centralised municipal water recycling plants. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 90(1), 78–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2011.08.006
Cabeza, R., Steingrobe, B., Römer, W., & Claassen, N. (2011). Effectiveness of recycled P products as P fertilizers, as evaluated in pot experiments. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 91(2), 173–184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-011-9454-0
Corona, F., Hidalgo, D., Martín-Marroquín, J. M., & Antolín, G. (2021). Study of the influence of the reaction parameters on nutrients recovering from digestate by struvite crystallisation. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(19), 24362–24374. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08400-4
Daneshgar, S., Buttafava, A., Callegari, A., & Capodaglio, A. G. (2019). Economic and energetic assessment of different phosphorus recovery options from aerobic sludge. Journal of Cleaner Production, 223, 729–738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.195
De Vrieze, J., Smet, D., Klok, J., Colsen, J., Angenent, L. T., & Vlaeminck, S. E. (2016). Thermophilic sludge digestion improves energy balance and nutrient recovery potential in full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plants. Bioresource Technology, 218, 1237–1245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.06.119
Department of the Army. (2001, September). Biological Nutrient Removal, Public Works Technical Bulletin 420-49-39. https://www.wbdg.org/FFC/ARMYCOE/PWTB/pwtb_420_49_39.pdf.
Desmidt, E., Ghyselbrecht, K., Zhang, Y., Pinoy, L., Van der Bruggen, B., Verstraete, W., ... & Meesschaert, B. (2015). Global phosphorus scarcity and full-scale P-recovery techniques: A review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 45(4), 336–384.https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2013.866531
Dockhorn, T. (2009, April). About the economy of phosphorus recovery. In International conference on nutrient recovery from wastewater streams (pp. 145–158). IWA Publishing.
Donatello, S., & Cheeseman, C. R. (2013). Recycling and recovery routes for incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA): A review. Waste Management, 33(11), 2328–2340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2013.05.024
Etter, B., Tilley, E., Khadka, R., & Udert, K. M. (2011). Low-cost struvite production using source-separated urine in Nepal. Water Research, 45(2), 852–862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2010.10.007
Feng, L., **e, L., Suo, G., Shao, X., & Dong, T. (2018). Influence of temperature on the performance of forward osmosis using ammonium bicarbonate as draw solute. Transactions of Tian** University, 24(6), 571–579. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12209-018-0159-1
Gao, L., Yang, G., Zhang, J., & **e, Z. (2020). De-ammonification using direct contact membrane distillation–an experimental and simulation study. Separation and Purification Technology, 250, 117158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2020.117158
Glover, T., & Peterson, G., DeCoste, J., & Browe, M. (2012). Adsorption of ammonia by sulfuric acid treated zirconium hydroxide. Langmuir: The ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids, 28, 10478–87. https://doi.org/10.1021/la302118h
Goglio, A., Marzorati, S., Zecchin, S., Quarto, S., Falletta, E., Bombelli, P., ... & Schievano, A. (2022). Plant nutrients recovery from agro-food wastewaters using microbial electrochemical technologies based on porous biocompatible materials. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 10(3), 107453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2022.107453
González-Ponce, R., López-de-Sá, E. G., & Plaza, C. (2009). Lettuce response to phosphorus fertilization with struvite recovered from municipal wastewater. HortScience, 44(2), 426–430. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.44.2.426
Gowd, S. C., Ramakrishna, S., & Rajendran, K. (2022). Wastewater in India: An untapped and under-tapped resource for nutrient recovery towards attaining a sustainable circular economy. Chemosphere, 291, 132753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132753
Huang, H., Zhang, D., Zhao, Z., Zhang, P., & Gao, F. (2017). Comparison investigation on phosphate recovery from sludge anaerobic supernatant using the electrocoagulation process and chemical precipitation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 141, 429–438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.09.127
Enyemadze, I., Momade, F. W., Oduro-Kwarteng, S., & Essandoh, H. (2021). Phosphorus recovery by struvite precipitation: A review of the impact of calcium on struvite quality. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 11(5), 706–718. https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2021.078
Jeanmaire, N., & Evans, T. (2001). Technico-economic feasibility of P-recovery from municipal wastewaters. Environmental Technology, 22(11), 1355–1361. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593332208618194
Kabdasli, I., Kuşçuoğlu, S., Tünay, O., & Siciliano, A. (2022). Assessment of K-struvite precipitation as a means of nutrient recovery from source separated human urine. Sustainability, 14(3), 1082. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031082
Kamilya, T., Gautam, R. K., Muthukumaran, S., Navaratna, D., & Mondal, S. (2022). Technical advances on current research trends and explore the future scope on nutrient recovery from waste-streams: A review and bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2020. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 1–19.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20895-7
Kedwell, K. C., Jørgensen, M. K., Quist-Jensen, C. A., Pham, T. D., Van der Bruggen, B., & Christensen, M. L. (2021). Selective electrodialysis for simultaneous but separate phosphate and ammonium recovery. Environmental Technology, 42(14), 2177–2186. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2019.1696410
Keyvan Hosseini, M., Pajoum Shariati, F., Bonakdarpour, B., & Heydarinasab, A. (2020). The effect of mechanical cleaning technology (MCT) on membrane fouling in a novel hybrid membrane photobioreactor (HMPBR) containing Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina). Journal of Applied Phycology, 32(1), 83–91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-019-01944-0
Krishnamoorthy, N., Dey, B., Unpaprom, Y., Ramaraj, R., Maniam, G. P., Govindan, N., ... & Paramasivan, B. (2021). Engineering principles and process designs for phosphorus recovery as struvite: A comprehensive review. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 9(5), 105579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.105579
Kumar, R., Ghosh, A. K., & Pal, P. (2020). Synergy of biofuel production with waste remediation along with value-added co-products recovery through microalgae cultivation: A review of membrane-integrated green approach. Science of the Total Environment, 698, 134169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134169
Kumashiro, K., Ishiwatari, H., & Nawamura, Y. (2001, March). A pilot plant study on using seawater as a magnesium source for struvite precipitation. In: Second international conference on recovery of phosphates from sewage and animal wastes, Noordwijkerhout, Holland.
Latif, M. A., Mehta, C. M., & Batstone, D. J. (2015). Low pH anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge for enhanced phosphorous release. Water Research, 81, 288–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2015.05.062
Latifian, M., Liu, J., & Mattiasson, B. (2012). Struvite-based fertilizer and its physical and chemical properties. Environmental Technology, 33(24), 2691–2697. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2012.676073
Levlin, E., & Hultman, B. (2003, March). Phosphorus recovery from phosphate rich side-streams in wastewater treatment plants. In Polish Swedish seminar, Gdansk March (pp. 23–25).
Li, R., Wang, J. J., Zhou, B., Awasthi, M. K., Ali, A., Zhang, Z., ... & Mahar, A. (2016). Recovery of phosphate from aqueous solution by magnesium oxide decorated magnetic biochar and its potential as phosphate-based fertilizer substitute. Bioresource Technology, 215, 209–214.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.125
Li, Y., Zhang, B., Li, G., & Luo, W. (2018). Osmotic membrane bioreactor and its hybrid systems for wastewater reuse and resource recovery: Advances, challenges, and future directions. Current Pollution Reports, 4(1), 23–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-018-0080-1
Liu, X., & Wang, J. (2019). Impact of calcium on struvite crystallization in the wastewater and its competition with magnesium. Chemical Engineering Journal, 378, 122121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.122121
Logan, B. E., Hamelers, B., Rozendal, R., Schröder, U., Keller, J., Freguia, S., ... & Rabaey, K. (2006). Microbial fuel cells: methodology and technology. Environmental Science & Technology, 40(17), 5181–5192.https://doi.org/10.1021/es0605016
Melia, P. M., Cundy, A. B., Sohi, S. P., Hooda, P. S., & Busquets, R. (2017). Trends in the recovery of phosphorus in bioavailable forms from wastewater. Chemosphere, 186, 381–395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.07.089
Molinos-Senante, M., Hernández-Sancho, F., Sala-Garrido, R., & Garrido-Baserba, M. (2011). Economic feasibility study for phosphorus recovery processes. Ambio, 40(4), 408–416. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-010-0101-9
Münch, E. V., & Barr, K. (2001). Controlled struvite crystallisation for removing phosphorus from anaerobic digester sidestreams. Water Research, 35(1), 151–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(00)00236-0
Nanzer, S., Oberson, A., Berger, L., Berset, E., Hermann, L., & Frossard, E. (2014). The plant availability of phosphorus from thermo-chemically treated sewage sludge ashes as studied by 33P labeling techniques. Plant and Soil, 377(1), 439–456. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1968-6
Nie, Y., Kato, H., Sugo, T., Hojo, T., Tian, X., & Li, Y. Y. (2017). Effect of anionic surfactant inhibition on sewage treatment by a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor: Efficiency, sludge activity and methane recovery. Chemical Engineering Journal, 315, 83–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.01.022
Nguyen, N. C., Chen, S. S., Jain, S., Nguyen, H. T., Ray, S. S., Ngo, H. H., ... & Duong, H. C. (2018). Exploration of an innovative draw solution for a forward osmosis-membrane distillation desalination process. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(6), 5203–5211.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9192-1
Peter, A. P., Khoo, K. S., Chew, K. W., Ling, T. C., Ho, S. H., Chang, J. S., & Show, P. L. (2021). Microalgae for biofuels, wastewater treatment and environmental monitoring. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 19(4), 2891–2904. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-021-01219-6
Pourabdollah, M., Torkian, A., Hashemian, S. J., & Bakhshi, B. (2014). A triple fouling layers perspective on evaluation of membrane fouling under different scenarios of membrane bioreactor operation. Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering, 12(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/2052-336X-12-91
Pradhan, S. K., Mikola, A., & Vahala, R. (2017). Nitrogen and phosphorus harvesting from human urine using a strip**, absorption, and precipitation process. Environmental Science & Technology, 51(9), 5165–5171. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b05402
Qin, M., & He, Z. (2014). Self-supplied ammonium bicarbonate draw solute for achieving wastewater treatment and recovery in a microbial electrolysis cell-forward osmosis-coupled system. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 1(10), 437–441. https://doi.org/10.1021/ez500280c
Ray, H., Perreault, F., & Boyer, T. H. (2020). Ammonia recovery from hydrolyzed human urine by forward osmosis with acidified draw solution. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(18), 11556–11565. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c02751
Reig, M., Vecino, X., Gibert, O., Valderrama, C., & Cortina, J. L. (2021). Study of the operational parameters in the hollow fibre liquid-liquid membrane contactors process for ammonia valorisation as liquid fertiliser. Separation and Purification Technology, 255, 117768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2020.117768
Römer, W., & Steingrobe, B. (2018). Fertilizer effect of phosphorus recycling products. Sustainability, 10(4), 1166. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10041166
Robles, Á., Aguado, D., Barat, R., Borrás, L., Bouzas, A., Giménez, J. B., & Seco, A. (2020). New frontiers from removal to recycling of nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater in the Circular Economy. Bioresource Technology, 300, 122673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122673
Ryu, H. D., Lim, C. S., Kang, M. K., & Lee, S. I. (2012). Evaluation of struvite obtained from semiconductor wastewater as a fertilizer in cultivating Chinese cabbage. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 221, 248–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.04.038
Safie, N. N., & Zahrim, A. Y. (2021). Recovery of nutrients from sewage using zeolite-chitosan-biochar adsorbent: Current practices and perspectives. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 40, 101845. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2020.101845
Sakthivel, S. R., Tilley, E., & Udert, K. M. (2012). Wood ash as a magnesium source for phosphorus recovery from source-separated urine. Science of the Total Environment, 419, 68–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.12.065
Sartorius, C., von Horn, J., & Tettenborn, F. (2012). Phosphorus recovery from wastewater—Expert survey on present use and future potential. Water Environment Research, 84(4), 313–322. https://doi.org/10.2175/106143012X13347678384440
Shaban, M., AbuKhadra, M. R., Nasief, F. M., & El-Salam, A. (2017). Removal of ammonia from aqueous solutions, ground water, and wastewater using mechanically activated clinoptilolite and synthetic zeolite-a: Kinetic and equilibrium studies. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 228(11), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-017-3643-7
Sheng, A. L. K., Bilad, M. R., Osman, N. B., & Arahman, N. (2017). Sequencing batch membrane photobioreactor for real secondary effluent polishing using native microalgae: Process performance and full-scale projection. Journal of Cleaner Production, 168, 708–715. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.083
Shu, L., Schneider, P., Jegatheesan, V., & Johnson, J. (2006). An economic evaluation of phosphorus recovery as struvite from digester supernatant. Bioresource Technology, 97(17), 2211–2216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2005.11.005
Shyam, S., Arun, J., Gopinath, K. P., Ribhu, G., Ashish, M., & Ajay, S. (2022). Biomass as source for hydrochar and biochar production to recover phosphates from wastewater: A review on challenges, commercialization, and future perspectives. Chemosphere, 286, 131490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131490
Speight, J. G. (2017). Industrial inorganic chemistry. Environmental Inorganic Chemistry for Engineers, 1.https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-849891-0.00003-5
Tange, Y., Takesawa, S., & Yoshitake, S. (2017). Asymmetric triacetate membrane keeps high water flux during ultrafiltration: In vitro study. Journal of Artificial Organs, 20(4), 399–402. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10047-017-0971-8
Wang, F., Wei, J., Zou, X., Fu, R., Li, J., Wu, D., ... & Chen, H. (2019). Enhanced electrochemical phosphate recovery from livestock wastewater by adjusting pH with plant ash. Journal of Environmental Management, 250, 109473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109473
Ward, A. J., Arola, K., Brewster, E. T., Mehta, C. M., & Batstone, D. J. (2018). Nutrient recovery from wastewater through pilot scale electrodialysis. Water Research, 135, 57–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.02.021
**e, T., Reddy, K. R., Wang, C., Yargicoglu, E., & Spokas, K. (2015). Characteristics and applications of biochar for environmental remediation: A review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 45(9), 939–969. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2014.924180
**e, M., Shon, H. K., Gray, S. R., & Elimelech, M. (2016). Membrane-based processes for wastewater nutrient recovery: Technology, challenges, and future direction. Water Research, 89, 210–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2015.11.045
Yang, Y. L., Wu, Y., Lu, Y. X., Cai, Y., He, Z., Yang, X. L., & Song, H. L. (2021). A comprehensive review of nutrient-energy-water-solute recovery by hybrid osmotic membrane bioreactors. Bioresource Technology, 320, 124300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124300
Ye, Y., Ngo, H. H., Guo, W., Chang, S. W., Nguyen, D. D., Varjani, S., ... & Nguyen, D. P. (2021). Bio-membrane based integrated systems for nitrogen recovery in wastewater treatment: Current applications and future perspectives. Chemosphere, 265, 129076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129076
Ye, Y., Ngo, H. H., Guo, W., Liu, Y., Chang, S. W., Nguyen, D. D., ... & Wang, J. (2018). A critical review on ammonium recovery from wastewater for sustainable wastewater management. Bioresource Technology, 268, 749–758.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.07.111
Yuan, H., Lu, Y., Abu-Reesh, I. M., & He, Z. (2015). Bioelectrochemical production of hydrogen in an innovative pressure-retarded osmosis/microbial electrolysis cell system: Experiments and modeling. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 8(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-015-0305-0
Zeng, W., Li, B., Lin, X., Lv, S., Yin, W., Li, P., ... & Wu, J. (2021). Enhanced phosphate removal by zero valent iron activated through oxidants from water: batch and breakthrough experiments. RSC Advances, 11(63), 39879–39887.https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA05664F
Zhang, J., Yuan, H., Deng, Y., Abu-Reesh, I. M., He, Z., & Yuan, C. (2019). Life cycle assessment of osmotic microbial fuel cells for simultaneous wastewater treatment and resource recovery. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 24(11), 1962–1975. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-019-01626-6
Zhang, Y., Pinoy, L., Meesschaert, B., & Van der Bruggen, B. (2013). A natural driven membrane process for brackish and wastewater treatment: Photovoltaic powered ED and FO hybrid system. Environmental Science & Technology, 47(18), 10548–10555. https://doi.org/10.1021/es402534m
Zhang, Z., Sarkar, D., Li, L., & Datta, R. (2022). Contaminant removal and resource recovery in bioelectrochemical wastewater treatment. Current Pollution Reports, 1–18https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-022-00218-7
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the efforts and publications of all the researchers who have contributed in enhancing the nutrient extraction technologies.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Mamidala, R., Velmaiel, K.E., Chitthaluri, S., Manthapuri, V., Naveen, K., RajaSekhar, P. (2023). Nutrients Recovery in the Water and Wastewater Sector. In: Smol, M., Prasad, M.N.V., Stefanakis, A.I. (eds) Water in Circular Economy. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-18165-8_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-18165-8_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-18164-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-18165-8
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)