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Title Fertiliser recovery from source-separated urine via membrane bioreactor and heat localized solar
ID_Doc 29270
Authors Ren, JW; Hao, D; Jiang, JX; Phuntsho, S; Freguia, S; Ni, BJ; Dai, P; Guan, J; Shon, HK
Title Fertiliser recovery from source-separated urine via membrane bioreactor and heat localized solar
Year 2021
Published
DOI 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117810
Abstract Urine with its abundant macronutrients (N-P-K) is an ideal resource for the production of fertiliser. However, the odor and pathogens in the raw urine must be removed to meet the public acceptance of urine collection systems and to enable its safe reuse as a fertiliser. In this work, real urine was collected and treated through a pilot-scale gravity-driven membrane bioreactor (GDMBR) to remove the malodorous organics and to nitrify almost 50% of the ammonia into nitrate. The stablised urine was subsequently distilled via low-cost heat localized solar evaporation (HLSE) to produce a non-odorous solid fertiliser. The developed HLSE with a small footprint can attract bulk solution into a vertical insulated space and quickly heat it up to 68 degrees C within 1 h. The HLSE process had vapour flux at 1.3 kg m- 2 h-1 as well as high solar to vapour conversion efficiency at 87%. Based on the EDX mapping and XRD analysis, the generated crystals are mainly NaNO3, NH4Cl, NaCl, NH4H2PO4 and K2HPO4, which are ideal nutrients for vegetation. In this study, the produced urine-derived fertilisers have a better performance on the growth of the leafy basil than the all-purpose commercial fertilisers. Generally, the GDMBRHLSE is a promising cost-effective and green technology for nutrients recovery from urine.
Author Keywords Source-separated urine; Nutrient recovery; Urine stabilization; Membrane bioreactor; Heat localised solar evaporation; Urine fertiliser
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:000725001000001
WoS Category Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences; Water Resources
Research Area Engineering; Environmental Sciences & Ecology; Water Resources
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