
You have already added 0 works in your ORCID record related to the merged Research product.
You have already added 0 works in your ORCID record related to the merged Research product.
<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
document.write('<div id="oa_widget"></div>');
document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src="https://beta.openaire.eu/index.php?option=com_openaire&view=widget&format=raw&projectId=undefined&type=result"></script>');
-->
</script>
Self-Powered Bioelectrochemical Nutrient Recovery for Fertilizer Generation from Human Urine

doi: 10.3390/su11195490
Nutrient recovery from source-separated human urine has been identified by many as a viable avenue towards the circular economy of nutrients. Moreover, untreated (and partially treated) urine is the main anthropogenic route of environmental discharge of nutrients, most concerning for nitrogen, whose release has exceeded the planet’s own self-healing capacity. Urine contains all key macronutrients (N, P, and K) and micronutrients (S, Ca, Mg, and trace metals) needed for plant growth and is, therefore, an excellent fertilizer. However, direct reuse is not recommended in modern society due to the presence of active organic molecules and heavy metals in urine. Many systems have been proposed and tested for nutrient recovery from urine, but none so far has reached technological maturity due to usually high power or chemical requirements or the need for advanced process controls. This work is the proof of concept for the world’s first nutrient recovery system that powers itself and does not require any chemicals or process controls. This is a variation of the previously proposed microbial electrochemical Ugold process, where a novel air cathode catalyst active in urine conditions (pH 9, high ammonia) enables in situ generation of electricity in a microbial fuel cell setup, and the simultaneous harvesting of such electricity for the electrodialytic concentration of ionic nutrients into a product stream, which is free of heavy metals. The system was able to sustain electrical current densities around 3 A m–2 for over two months while simultaneously upconcentrating N and K by a factor of 1.5–1.7.
- University of Queensland Australia
- University of Queensland Australia
- Polytechnic University of Turin Italy
- University of Tsukuba Japan
Monitoring, TJ807-830, 910, TD194-195, Renewable energy sources, microbial fuel cell (mfc), nutrient recovery, air cathodes, GE1-350, Renewable Energy, Planning and Development, Sustainability and the Environment, Geography, Policy and Law, microbial fuel cell (MFC), Environmental effects of industries and plants, 3305 Geography, bioelectrochemical system, urine, Management, 2105 Renewable Energy, Environmental sciences, 2308 Management
Monitoring, TJ807-830, 910, TD194-195, Renewable energy sources, microbial fuel cell (mfc), nutrient recovery, air cathodes, GE1-350, Renewable Energy, Planning and Development, Sustainability and the Environment, Geography, Policy and Law, microbial fuel cell (MFC), Environmental effects of industries and plants, 3305 Geography, bioelectrochemical system, urine, Management, 2105 Renewable Energy, Environmental sciences, 2308 Management
citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).42 popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.Top 1% influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).Top 10% impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.Top 10%
