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Evaluation of local and national effects of recovering phosphorus at wastewater treatment plants: Lessons learned from the UK

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  • Kleemann, Rosanna
  • Chenoweth, Jonathan
  • Clift, Roland
  • Morse, Stephen
  • Pearce, Pete
  • Saroj, Devendra

Abstract

P recovery from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as struvite fertiliser is a recognised method of improving P use efficiency and reducing P losses into the environment. The main driver for P recovery from the water industry viewpoint is the reduction in the nuisance of struvite clogging inside pumps and pipes. Struvite recovery leads to an average P recovery rate of 72±7% from centrifuge centrate, with 8.8±0.7% total P and 20.5±3.2% PO4-P removed from the WWTP influent as struvite. This reduces the potential for struvite precipitation, moderates P loads on biological nutrient removal processes and lowers P concentration in the final effluent. Totalling revenue from sale of struvite and operational site savings, P recovery becomes an attractive option for water companies. The implementation of P recovery technologies to produce struvite fertiliser in all UK WWTPs could produce a national P fertiliser source of 7.05±2.01kt P/year. In addition, sludge produced at WWTPs could be diverted to advanced energy recovery (AER) processes and P recovered from AER residues; up to 21.71±0.95kt P/year could be recovered in this way in the UK. Combining the two methods of P recovery, UK imports of P fertiliser could be reduced by 36.2±1.1%. P recovery on a large scale has the further benefit of protecting against eutrophication by reducing P emissions to water bodies by 21.7±1.9%. The protection of the environment and reduction in reliance on imported P are major national motivations to legislate P recovery from waste.

Suggested Citation

  • Kleemann, Rosanna & Chenoweth, Jonathan & Clift, Roland & Morse, Stephen & Pearce, Pete & Saroj, Devendra, 2015. "Evaluation of local and national effects of recovering phosphorus at wastewater treatment plants: Lessons learned from the UK," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 105(PB), pages 347-359.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:105:y:2015:i:pb:p:347-359
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2015.09.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Scholz, Roland W. & Wellmer, Friedrich-Wilhelm, 2015. "Losses and use efficiencies along the phosphorus cycle – Part 2: Understanding the concept of efficiency," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 105(PB), pages 259-274.
    2. Scholz, Roland W. & Wellmer, Friedrich-Wilhelm, 2015. "Losses and use efficiencies along the phosphorus cycle. Part 1: Dilemmata and losses in the mines and other nodes of the supply chain," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 105(PB), pages 216-234.
    3. Bateman, Anna & van der Horst, Dan & Boardman, David & Kansal, Arun & Carliell-Marquet, Cynthia, 2011. "Closing the phosphorus loop in England: The spatio-temporal balance of phosphorus capture from manure versus crop demand for fertiliser," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(12), pages 1146-1153.
    4. Maaß, Oliver & Grundmann, Philipp & von Bock und Polach, Carlotta, 2014. "Added-value from innovative value chains by establishing nutrient cycles via struvite," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 126-136.
    5. Seyhan, Demet & Weikard, Hans-Peter & van Ierland, Ekko, 2012. "An economic model of long-term phosphorus extraction and recycling," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 103-108.
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    1. Anouk F. Duque & Riccardo Campo & Angeles Val del Rio & Catarina L. Amorim, 2021. "Wastewater Valorization: Practice around the World at Pilot- and Full-Scale," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-28, September.

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