Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
09:50
Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
Published on: January 22, 2015
Complete nutrient recovery from source-separated urine by nitrification and distillation
1Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland. kai.udert@eawag.ch
Water Research
|November 29, 2011
Summary
This study recovers urine nutrients into a dry solid using nitrification and distillation. The process yields a stable fertilizer, with energy demand reducible to conventional levels through water removal and vapor compression.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Nutrient recovery from source-separated urine is crucial for sustainable resource management.
- Conventional wastewater treatment has limitations in nutrient recycling and fertilizer production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and assess a method for recovering all nutrients from urine into a dry solid.
- To evaluate the energy efficiency and product stability of the proposed nutrient recovery process.
Main Methods:
- Biological nitrification using a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) for over 12 months.
- Lab-scale distillation of nitrified urine and synthetic solutions to concentrate nutrients.
- Process stability control via influent pH adjustment.
- Energy demand estimation and comparison with conventional methods.
- Evaluation of product stability and potential for enhanced thermal stability.
Main Results:
- Stable nitrification achieved with a maximum rate of 1.8 ± 0.3 gN m(-2) d(-1) and controlled pH (6.2-7.0).
- All nutrients recovered in a dry powder, with <3% ammonia loss.
- Initial energy demand is 4-5 times higher than conventional treatment but reducible to comparable levels with reverse osmosis and vapor compression distillation.
- Solid residue ammonium nitrate content is below stringent EU fertilizer safety limits.
Conclusions:
- Nitrification and distillation effectively recover nutrients from urine into a stable solid product.
- Optimized process configuration significantly reduces energy demand, making it competitive with conventional methods.
- Further steps are recommended to enhance the thermal stability of the recovered nutrient product for fertilizer applications.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:23Formation of Concentrated Urine
There is a gradient of solutes in the interstitial fluid from the renal cortex through the medulla, known as the medullary osmotic gradient. The juxtamedullary nephrons establish and maintain this gradient using countercurrent mechanisms with loops extending deep into the medulla. These nephrons also use countercurrent mechanisms to regulate urine volume and concentration. The interaction between the descending and ascending limbs of the nephron loop creates an osmotic gradient through...
01:20Formation of Dilute Urine
The formation of dilute urine is a critical renal adaptation that maintains fluid balance, particularly during periods of high fluid intake. This process primarily involves the juxtamedullary nephrons. By adjusting the permeability of water and ions in response to physiological conditions, the kidneys can either conserve or excrete water, resulting in concentrated or dilute urine.
Filtrate Osmolarity in the PCT
Initially, as the filtrate passes through the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), its...
Filtrate Osmolarity in the PCT
Initially, as the filtrate passes through the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), its...
01:20Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism
Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this nitrogen...
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this nitrogen...
01:25Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium
Microorganisms play a critical role in the transformation and immobilization of uranium in contaminated environments through four main pathways: bioreduction, biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biomineralization. These mechanisms reduce uranium’s toxicity and prevent its migration through groundwater systems, offering sustainable approaches for in situ bioremediation.Bioreduction of UraniumBioreduction is driven by anaerobic bacteria such as certain strains of Geobacter and Shewanella, which use...
01:30Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy, also known as CRRT, is a procedural treatment for acute kidney injury (AKI) that gradually removes uremic toxins and fluids while maintaining acid-base balance and stabilizing electrolytes. It is particularly useful for hemodynamically unstable patients. Unlike intermittent hemodialysis, which is faster, CRRT provides a gentler approach over 24 hours, closely mimicking the function of natural kidneys. However, CRRT is not ideal for patients with...
01:32Filtration and Urine Formation
The function of the kidneys is to filter, reabsorb, secrete, and excrete. Every day the kidneys filter nearly 180 liters of blood, initially removing water and solutes but ultimately returning nearly all filtrates into circulation with the help of osmoregulatory hormones. This process removes wastes and toxins but is also crucial to maintain water and electrolyte levels. Most of these functions are performed by the tiny but numerous nephrons contained within the kidneys.