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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #383502
Research Project: Improvement of Soil Management Practices and Manure Treatment/Handling Systems of the Southern Coastal Plain

Location: Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research

Title: Second-generation phosphorus: recovery from wastes towards the sustainability of production chains

Author
item HOLLAS, C. - Western Paraná State University
item BOLSAN, A. - University Of Santa Catarina
item VENTURIN, B. - Western Paraná State University
item BONASSA, G. - Western Paraná State University
item TAPPARO, D. - Western Paraná State University
item CANDIDO, D. - Federal University Of Fronteira Sul
item ANTES, F. - Embrapa-Pigs And Poultry
item Vanotti, Matias
item Szogi, Ariel
item KUNZ, AIRTON - Embrapa-Pigs And Poultry

Submitted to: Sustainability
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2021
Publication Date: 5/24/2021
Citation: Hollas, C.E., Bolsan, A.C., Venturin, B., Bonassa, G., Tapparo, D.C., Candido, D., Antes, F.G., Vanotti, M.B., Szogi, A.A., Kunz, A. 2021. Second-generation phosphorus: recovery from wastes towards the sustainability of production chains. Sustainability. 13(11):5919. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115919.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115919

Interpretive Summary: The present work describes different technologies adopted for what is called the second-generation phosphorus (P) recovery, that encompass the P obtained from residues and wastes. The second-generation P has high potential to substitute first-generation P comprising the P originally mined from rock phosphates for agricultural production. Several physical, chemical, and biological processes are available for use in second-generation P recovery. Available technologies to concentrate and recover the P from wastes are: chemical extraction using magnesium and calcium precipitating compounds yielding struvite, newberyite and calcium phosphates; thermal treatments like combustion, hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis; nanofiltration and ion exchange; electrochemical processes; and biological processes such as composting, algae uptake, and phosphate accumulating microorganisms (PAOs). However, the best technology to use depends on the characteristic of the waste, the purpose of the process, the cost and the availability of land.

Technical Abstract: Phosphorus (P) is essential for life and has a fundamental role in industry and the world food production system. The present work describes different technologies adopted for what is called the second-generation P recovery framework, that encompass the P obtained from residues and wastes. The second-generation P has a high potential to substitute the first-generation P comprising that originally mined from rock phosphates for agricultural production. Several physical, chemical, and biological processes are available for use in second-generation P recovery. They include both concentrating and recovery technologies: (1) chemical extraction using magnesium and calcium precipitating compounds yielding struvite, newberyite and calcium phosphates; (2) thermal treatments like combustion, hydrothermal carbonization, and pyrolysis; (3) nanofiltration and ion exchange methods; (4) electrochemical processes; and (5) biological processes such as composting, algae uptake, and phosphate accumulating microorganisms (PAOs). However, the best technology to use depends on the characteristic of the waste, the purpose of the process, the cost, and the availability of land. The exhaustion of deposits (economic problem) and the accumulation of P (environmental problem) are the main drivers to incentivize the P’s recovery from various wastes. Besides promoting the resource’s safety, the recovery of P introduces the residues as raw materials, closing the productive systems loop and reducing their environmental damage.