Fertiliser recovery from source-separated urine via membrane bioreactor and heat localized solar evaporation.

Ren, J; Hao, D; Jiang, J; Phuntsho, S; Freguia, S; Ni, B-J; Dai, P; Guan, J; Shon, HK

Fertiliser recovery from source-separated urine via membrane bioreactor and heat localized solar evaporation.

Ren, J Hao, D Jiang, J Phuntsho, S

Freguia, S Ni, B-J Dai, P Guan, J Shon, HK

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Water Research, 2021, 207, pp. 1-10
Issue Date:: 2021-12-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Ren, J
dc.contributor.author	Hao, D
dc.contributor.author	Jiang, J
dc.contributor.author	Phuntsho, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3917-3916
dc.contributor.author	Freguia, S
dc.contributor.author	Ni, B-J
dc.contributor.author	Dai, P
dc.contributor.author	Guan, J
dc.contributor.author	Shon, HK
dc.date.accessioned	2022-05-05T09:04:32Z
dc.date.available	2021-10-22
dc.date.available	2022-05-05T09:04:32Z
dc.date.issued	2021-12-01
dc.identifier.citation	Water Research, 2021, 207, pp. 1-10
dc.identifier.issn	0043-1354
dc.identifier.issn	1879-2448
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/157064
dc.description.abstract	Urine with its abundant macronutrients (N-P-K) is an ideal resource for the production of fertiliser. However, the odor and pathogens in the raw urine must be removed to meet the public acceptance of urine collection systems and to enable its safe reuse as a fertiliser. In this work, real urine was collected and treated through a pilot-scale gravity-driven membrane bioreactor (GDMBR) to remove the malodorous organics and to nitrify almost 50% of the ammonia into nitrate. The stablised urine was subsequently distilled via low-cost heat localized solar evaporation (HLSE) to produce a non-odorous solid fertiliser. The developed HLSE with a small footprint can attract bulk solution into a vertical insulated space and quickly heat it up to 68 °C within 1 h. The HLSE process had vapour flux at 1.3 kg m-2 h-1 as well as high solar to vapour conversion efficiency at 87%. Based on the EDX mapping and XRD analysis, the generated crystals are mainly NaNO3, NH4Cl, NaCl, NH4H2PO4 and K2HPO4, which are ideal nutrients for vegetation. In this study, the produced urine-derived fertilisers have a better performance on the growth of the leafy basil than the all-purpose commercial fertilisers. Generally, the GDMBR-HLSE is a promising cost-effective and green technology for nutrients recovery from urine.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/IH170100009
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/IH210100001
dc.relation.ispartof	Water Research
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.watres.2021.117810
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Engineering
dc.subject.mesh	Bioreactors
dc.subject.mesh	Fertilizers
dc.subject.mesh	Hot Temperature
dc.subject.mesh	Nitrates
dc.subject.mesh	Urine
dc.subject.mesh	Bioreactors
dc.subject.mesh	Fertilizers
dc.subject.mesh	Hot Temperature
dc.subject.mesh	Nitrates
dc.subject.mesh	Urine
dc.title	Fertiliser recovery from source-separated urine via membrane bioreactor and heat localized solar evaporation.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	207
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2022-05-05T09:04:29Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	207

Abstract:

Urine with its abundant macronutrients (N-P-K) is an ideal resource for the production of fertiliser. However, the odor and pathogens in the raw urine must be removed to meet the public acceptance of urine collection systems and to enable its safe reuse as a fertiliser. In this work, real urine was collected and treated through a pilot-scale gravity-driven membrane bioreactor (GDMBR) to remove the malodorous organics and to nitrify almost 50% of the ammonia into nitrate. The stablised urine was subsequently distilled via low-cost heat localized solar evaporation (HLSE) to produce a non-odorous solid fertiliser. The developed HLSE with a small footprint can attract bulk solution into a vertical insulated space and quickly heat it up to 68 °C within 1 h. The HLSE process had vapour flux at 1.3 kg m-2 h-1 as well as high solar to vapour conversion efficiency at 87%. Based on the EDX mapping and XRD analysis, the generated crystals are mainly NaNO3, NH4Cl, NaCl, NH4H2PO4 and K2HPO4, which are ideal nutrients for vegetation. In this study, the produced urine-derived fertilisers have a better performance on the growth of the leafy basil than the all-purpose commercial fertilisers. Generally, the GDMBR-HLSE is a promising cost-effective and green technology for nutrients recovery from urine.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/157064