Integrated electrodialysis - Forward osmosis process for sustainable water reuse: A case study in southern highbush blueberry

Authors: TRAN, QUANG - Oregon State University; RETANO, ANDREA - Oregon State University; Bryla, David; GARCIA-JARAMILLO, MANUEL - Oregon State University; JIN, XUE - Oregon State University

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/19/2025
Publication Date: 5/20/2025
Citation: Tran, Q., Retano, A., Bryla, D.R., Garcia-Jaramillo, M., Jin, X. 2025. Integrated electrodialysis - Forward osmosis process for sustainable water reuse: A case study in southern highbush blueberry. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. 13(3). Article 117178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.117178.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.117178

Interpretive Summary: Water scarcity and nutrient pollution are among the most pressing problems in the agricultural sector, which accounts for approximately 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. In cooperation with faculty and students at Oregon State University, an ARS scientist in Corvallis, OR evaluated the long-term performance of a unique hybrid electrodialysis-forward osmosis process for the recovery of nutrients and water from two sources, municipal waste and dairy farm waste, which were then used to successfully grow blueberry plants in soilless potting media. Contaminant analysis demonstrated the capacity of the process to effectively reduce organic pollutants, with over 90% removal efficiency for various pharmaceutical and pesticide residues. This substantial reduction in contaminants minimized environmental and food safety risks, supporting the feasibility of using reclaimed water as a safe irrigation source for high-value crops, such as blueberries.

Technical Abstract: The study explores the long-term efficiency of an integrated electrodialysis-forward osmosis (iEDFO) treatment technology for nutrient recovery and its application in irrigating and fertilizing high-value crops. Results showed a stable energy profile with consistent electrical conductivity (EC) trends in both municipal and dairy digestates, highlighting the system's capacity to maintain ionic stability, essential for long-term operation. Fouling resistance was indicated by gradual and minimal declines in current density, reflecting stable performance after three cycles and reducing the need for chemical cleaning. A greenhouse trial assessed the impact of using treated and untreated wastewater for irrigation on plant growth and nutrient dynamics in southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. interspecific hybrid). The plants were grown in a soilless potting media and irrigated with a modified Hoagland nutrient solution (control), untreated municipal or dairy digestate, or recovered nutrient water from municipal or dairy digestate treated by the iEDFO process. Leaf area and shoot biomass were similar among the treatments, confirming that wastewater irrigation did not adversely affect blueberry growth. Furthermore, pH levels in the potting media were near or within the optimal range for blueberry cultivation (4.5-5.5), while EC exceeded salinity thresholds for the crop (> 2 dS/m) but did not visibly damage the plants, suggesting that salt and nutrient levels were manageable with periodic freshwater flushing. Mass-spectrometry-based, non-targeted analysis detected significant reductions in organic pollutants across treatment cycles. Pharmaceuticals and pesticides in untreated digestate were reduced by over 90% post-treatment, affirming the system's efficacy in removing emerging contaminants that could pose risks in agriculture and consumers. Given its favorable nutrient recovery and contaminant removal, the iEDFO system offers a sustainable solution for wastewater reuse, enabling nutrient cycling in agricultural systems and reducing freshwater dependence.