Nutrient Recovery from Wastewater for Sustainable Fertilizer Production
This research proposal addresses the critical challenge of sustainable recovery and reuse of phosphate, vital for sustaining food supply amidst decreasing mineable phosphate reserves. It explores the potential of incorporating dedicated recovery operations in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), focusing on the recovery of struvite, a phosphate mineral commonly present in municipal wastewaters. The proposal emphasizes the multiple sustainability benefits of struvite recovery, including its use as a low-cost fertilizer, moving towards phosphate-neutral waste treatment, preventing environmental eutrophication, and reducing mineral fouling in WWTPs. However, existing struvite recovery technologies are limited by high power consumption, particularly in modulating crystallizer pH levels.
The proposed work aims to develop nanoengineered particles to enhance struvite recovery efficiency and reduce energy and chemical inputs. Additionally, the project seeks to analyze government systems and policies that may hinder or encourage the implementation of advanced nutrient recovery technologies. Through examining existing policies, conducting case studies, and identifying incentives within current policy frameworks, the research intends to inform strategies for overcoming barriers to the adoption of struvite recovery technologies. Collaboration with water policy experts will enhance the policy-based research component of the project. Overall, the project integrates scientific and engineering efforts with policy analysis to advance sustainable phosphate recovery practices in wastewater treatment.
This grant is made possible by the Goldsmith Research Fund, a gift from Carl H. Goldsmith (W ‘88).
Samantha McBride
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, SEASSamantha McBride is the William K. Gemmill Term Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania.
