Researchers Develop Membrane to Recover Nutrients for Fertilizer

Researchers at Aalto University in Finland have announced a process they developed called NPHarvest, which allows for the recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater in a way that produces a clean ammonium sulfate solution for fertilizer, along with a slurry rich in phosphorus and calcium. Using the NPHarvest process to produce recycled fertilizer can save both energy and natural resources, as it reduces nutrient discharges into waterways and cuts the amount of energy and chemicals consumed by aeration and wastewater treatment processes, according to the researchers. Developing a membraneThe NPHarvest process begins with the chemical coagulation of wastewater with lime dust, an