Recovering Phosphorus from Wastewater: Evaluating the Climate Benefits of Recycled Fertilizer Production
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
In Person or Zoom Presentation
In-Person
Campus
Daytona Beach
Status
Student
Faculty/Staff Department
Honors
Student Year and Major
2nd, Aerospace Engineering
Organization, if requesting a table
N/A
Presentation Description/Abstract
Conventional phosphorus fertilizer production relies on phosphate-rock extraction, processing, and transportation, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption. Phosphate mining and processing can also generate significant environmental impacts, including land disturbance, waste generation, and the concentration of naturally occurring radioactive materials in certain phosphate-processing byproducts. Meanwhile, municipal wastewater contains recoverable phosphorus that is often removed during treatment rather than reused as an agricultural resource. The goal of this research is to evaluate whether recovering phosphorus as struvite fertilizer at municipal wastewater treatment facilities can reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional fertilizer production while also mitigating the broader environmental impacts of phosphate extraction. The study will compare wastewater treatment systems with and without phosphorus recovery, examining the potential emissions avoided through fertilizer substitution alongside the additional energy, chemicals, and infrastructure required for recovery. This comparison will also consider whether recovering phosphorus from wastewater reduces dependence on phosphate mining and its associated waste-management and radiological concerns. Existing case studies and life-cycle assessments will provide the basis for evaluating technical feasibility, environmental tradeoffs, and implementation costs. The primary focus is the Climate Change planetary boundary, with reduced phosphorus waste and nutrient discharge providing a secondary connection to Biogeochemical Flows. By identifying the conditions under which phosphorus recovery offers a net climate benefit, this research aims to establish a practical pathway toward more sustainable fertilizer production and wastewater infrastructure.
Keywords
Phosphorus Recovery, Wastewater Treatment, Struvite Fertilizer, Climate Change, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Life Cycle Assessment, Sustainable Fertilizer Production, Nutrient Recycling
Recovering Phosphorus from Wastewater: Evaluating the Climate Benefits of Recycled Fertilizer Production
Conventional phosphorus fertilizer production relies on phosphate-rock extraction, processing, and transportation, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption. Phosphate mining and processing can also generate significant environmental impacts, including land disturbance, waste generation, and the concentration of naturally occurring radioactive materials in certain phosphate-processing byproducts. Meanwhile, municipal wastewater contains recoverable phosphorus that is often removed during treatment rather than reused as an agricultural resource. The goal of this research is to evaluate whether recovering phosphorus as struvite fertilizer at municipal wastewater treatment facilities can reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional fertilizer production while also mitigating the broader environmental impacts of phosphate extraction. The study will compare wastewater treatment systems with and without phosphorus recovery, examining the potential emissions avoided through fertilizer substitution alongside the additional energy, chemicals, and infrastructure required for recovery. This comparison will also consider whether recovering phosphorus from wastewater reduces dependence on phosphate mining and its associated waste-management and radiological concerns. Existing case studies and life-cycle assessments will provide the basis for evaluating technical feasibility, environmental tradeoffs, and implementation costs. The primary focus is the Climate Change planetary boundary, with reduced phosphorus waste and nutrient discharge providing a secondary connection to Biogeochemical Flows. By identifying the conditions under which phosphorus recovery offers a net climate benefit, this research aims to establish a practical pathway toward more sustainable fertilizer production and wastewater infrastructure.
Comments
This submission represents an undergraduate group research project developed for HONR 350: Honors Seminar III at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The proposed study evaluates wastewater phosphorus recovery as a potential alternative to conventional fertilizer production, with emphasis on life-cycle greenhouse gas impacts, resource recovery, and implementation feasibility. The research is conceptual and literature-based; no original experimental results are claimed.