Recent technological developments and challenges for phosphorus removal and recovery toward a circular economy

• Published in: Environmental technology & innovation 2023-05, Vol.30, p.103114, Article 103114
• Main Authors: Vu, Minh T., Duong, Hung C., Wang, Qilin, Ansari, Ashley, Cai, Zhengqing, Hoang, Ngoc Bich, Nghiem, Long D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical precipitation; Enrichment by membrane separation; Immobilisation and utilisation; Phosphorus recovery; Post-treatment; Pre-treatment
• ISSN: 2352-1864; 2352-1864
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eti.2023.103114

This review aims to summarise the current state of the art technologies for phosphorus recovery from waste and wastewater. Information corroborated here shows a clear relationship between PO4-P content in the liquid phase and the cost of phosphorus recovery. In fact, all current commercial scale operations in this review involve a phosphorus-rich waste stream. In most cases, phosphorus recovery is achieved via two key steps: solubilising phosphorus into water and then phosphate recovery via chemical precipitation/crystallisation. Recent development has also included enrichment and pre-treatment of the phosphorus rich liquid stream. Phosphorus is also a contaminant in the aquatic environment. Thus, this work also reviews the post-treatment of the liquid stream after phosphorus recovery for environmental discharge or water reuse. This review places a spotlight on the requirement for further research work especially on phosphorus enrichment at pilot- and full-scale level. The review also demonstrates the need for further research on pre-treatment and post-treatment to complement the recovery process via chemical precipitation. [Display omitted] •A review to sustainably manage phosphorus (P) in a circular economy.•Current P recovery is mostly from anaerobically digested human and animal wastes.•Emerging trend to use membrane for enriching P prior to recovery.•Chemical precipitation is a core component of P recovery technology.•Further research on pre-treatment, enrichment & post-treatment is expected.