Source-separated urine opens golden opportunities for microbial electrochemical technologies.
The food security of a booming global population demands a continuous and sustainable supply of fertilisers. Their current once-through use [especially of the macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)] requires a paradigm shift towards recovery and reuse. In the case of source-separated urine, efficient recovery could supply 20% of current macronutrient usage and remove 50-80% of nutrients present in wastewater. However, suitable technology options are needed to allow nutrients to be separated from urine close to the source. Thus far none of the proposed solutions has been widely implemented due to intrinsic limitations. Microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) have proved to be technically and economically viable for N recovery from urine, opening the path for novel decentralised systems focused on nutrient recovery and reuse.
Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
Pablo
P
Ledezma
Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 7, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
Philipp
P
Kuntke
Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 7, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands; Sub-Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, Bornse Weilanden 9, PO Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Cees J N
CJ
Buisman
Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
Jürg
J
Keller
Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; Centre for Microbial Electrochemical Systems, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia. Electronic address: s.freguia@uq.edu.au.
Stefano
S
Freguia
D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005308:Fertilizers; D006801:Humans; D059027:Recycling / Q000379:methods*; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
D005308:Fertilizers
microbial electrochemical system; microbial electrolysis cell; microbial fuel cell; nutrient recovery; source-separated urine; water-energy-nutrients nexus