Source-separated urine opens golden opportunities for microbial electrochemical technologies

Pablo Ledezma; Philipp Kuntke; Cees J.N. Buisman; Jürg Keller; Stefano Freguia

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2015.01.007

Source-separated urine opens golden opportunities for microbial electrochemical technologies

Pablo Ledezma, Philipp Kuntke, Cees J.N. Buisman, Jürg Keller, Stefano Freguia^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

146 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	214-220
Journal	Trends in Biotechnology
Volume	33
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2015.01.007
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 2015

Keywords

Microbial electrochemical system
Microbial electrolysis cell
Microbial fuel cell
Nutrient recovery
Source-separated urine
Water-energy-nutrients nexus

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

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title = "Source-separated urine opens golden opportunities for microbial electrochemical technologies",

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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AU - Ledezma, Pablo

AU - Kuntke, Philipp

AU - Buisman, Cees J.N.

AU - Keller, Jürg

AU - Freguia, Stefano

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N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Microbial electrochemical system

KW - Microbial electrolysis cell

KW - Microbial fuel cell

KW - Nutrient recovery

KW - Source-separated urine

KW - Water-energy-nutrients nexus

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DO - 10.1016/j.tibtech.2015.01.007

M3 - Article

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Source-separated urine opens golden opportunities for microbial electrochemical technologies

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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