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Feasibility of Struvite Crystals Obtained from Swine Wastewater and Urban Sewage Sludge Liquid Fraction as Fertilising Product

Author

Listed:
  • Rubén Rodríguez-Alegre

    (Leitat Technological Center, Circular Economy & Decarbonization Department, Carrer de La Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Spain
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Sergi Durán-Videra

    (Leitat Technological Center, Circular Economy & Decarbonization Department, Carrer de La Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Spain
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Manuel Cepero-Sánchez

    (Leitat Technological Center, Circular Economy & Decarbonization Department, Carrer de La Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Spain)

  • Laura Pérez Megías

    (Leitat Technological Center, Circular Economy & Decarbonization Department, Carrer de La Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Spain)

  • Carlos Andecochea Saiz

    (Leitat Technological Center, Circular Economy & Decarbonization Department, Carrer de La Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Spain)

  • Xialei You

    (Leitat Technological Center, Circular Economy & Decarbonization Department, Carrer de La Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Spain)

Abstract

Increasing global food demand has led to an intensive use of synthetic fertilisers. In this regard, the use of non-conventional streams such as swine wastewater (SW) and urban sewage sludge liquid fraction (USS) for the production of bio-based fertilisers can increase the sustainability of both the fertiliser industry and agriculture while reducing the reliance on imported nutrients. In this work, USS and SW were assessed for the production of struvite at different PO 4 3− :Mg 2+ ratios. Significant differences were found in terms of struvite crystals’ shape and size among both feedstocks due to the different saturation indexes, and it was concluded that PO 4 3− :Mg 2+ ratios of 1:2 for SW and 1:1 for USS were the most suitable for obtaining big crystals suitable to be used for direct fertilisation. In addition, it was observed that the crystallisation process is highly dependent on the presence of interfering ions (mainly Ca) that can result in the formation of hydroxyapatite instead of struvite. Finally, recovering struvite from SW and USS could potentially reduce the European import of P by up to 6.5%.

Suggested Citation

  • Rubén Rodríguez-Alegre & Sergi Durán-Videra & Manuel Cepero-Sánchez & Laura Pérez Megías & Carlos Andecochea Saiz & Xialei You, 2025. "Feasibility of Struvite Crystals Obtained from Swine Wastewater and Urban Sewage Sludge Liquid Fraction as Fertilising Product," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:6080-:d:1693449
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mirko Cucina & Patrizia De Nisi & Simone Sordi & Fabrizio Adani, 2021. "Sewage Sludge as N-Fertilizers for Crop Production Enabling the Circular Bioeconomy in Agriculture: A Challenge for the New EU Regulation 1009/2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Kishan Mahmud & Dinesh Panday & Anaas Mergoum & Ali Missaoui, 2021. "Nitrogen Losses and Potential Mitigation Strategies for a Sustainable Agroecosystem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-23, February.
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