Techno-Economic Analysis of Phosphorus Removal Structures

Excess phosphorus (P) is a major pollutant in aquatic systems. Phosphorus removal structures, landscape-scale filters designed to capture dissolved P from runoff, drainage, and wastewater offer promise in curbing P pollution. While the environmental benefits of various P removal structures are well...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2023-08, Vol.57 (34), p.12858-12868
Main Authors: Scott, Isis S. P. C., Scott, Francisco, McCarty, Tanner, Penn, Chad J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic environment
Cost analysis
Economic analysis
Effectiveness
Industrial production
Landscape design
Phosphorus
Phosphorus removal
Physico-Chemical Treatment and Resource Recovery
Pollutant removal
Runoff
Shavings
Slag
Wastewater treatment
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Summary:Excess phosphorus (P) is a major pollutant in aquatic systems. Phosphorus removal structures, landscape-scale filters designed to capture dissolved P from runoff, drainage, and wastewater offer promise in curbing P pollution. While the environmental benefits of various P removal structures are well documented, the cost-effectiveness of each structure’s ability to sequester P is lacking. In this study, we compare the cost-effectiveness of P removal of the most prominent P removal structures. Specifically, we calculate the average cost per kilogram (kg) of P removed by eight different P removal structures across a range of parameter assumptions. Absent constraints, we found that (1) larger structures that use (2) regionally available phosphorus sorption materials that are (3) byproducts of industrial production (e.g., metal shavings and steel slag) rather than manufactured are more cost-effective. The average cost of P removal for most structures varies from $100 to 1300 per kg in our baseline estimations, which is comparable to the average cost for wastewater treatment. This work provides further information to guide the optimal implementation of P removal structures for conservationists.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/acs.est.3c02696