Nutrient Recovery Technologies: Advanced Strategies for Nitrogen Removal and Recovery Chapter in Scopus uri icon

abstract

  • The growing population and increased dependence on industries have increased the production of wastewater which contains useful nutrients like nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P), posing sever environmental threats. This chapter focuses on the advanced technologies for nitrogen removal and recovery in wastewater while considering their economic viability and environmental impact. Traditional methods, which are widely used, are scrutinized for their potential environmental setbacks like the emission of nitrous oxide (N¿O), a potent greenhouse gas. However, cutting-edge methods such as partial nitritation-anaerobic ammonium oxidation are emphasized because of their beneficial economics and ability, under proper management, to lessen environmental issues. Further, in this chapter opportunities for nitrogen recovery from wastewater, which contains high concentrations of nitrogen, which is suitable for processes like ammonia stripping are also, explored which results in less dependence on fertilizer industries and encourages a circular economy. This chapter also emphasizes the importance of the need for improvement in both biological and physico-chemical processes in the removal of nitrogen. It also explains emerging technologies in the recovery of nitrogen from wastewater such as electrochemical systems, denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation (DAMO), and direct ammonia oxidation. Recovery of valuable byproducts other than nitrogen such as struvite reinforces the circular economy. The chapter presents the current status and promising nitrogen recovery methods through a study of recent technical breakthroughs and a detailed analysis of economic and environmental implications. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.

publication date

  • January 1, 2025