Source-separated urine opens golden opportunities for microbial electrochemical technologies
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Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Bacterial Detection & Identification Using Electrochemical Sensors
Published on: April 23, 2013
Pablo Ledezma1, Philipp Kuntke2, Cees J N Buisman3
1Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
Abstract:
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.
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