Bioregenerative nutrient recovery from human urine : closing the loop in turning waste into wealth

This chapter presents a state-of-the-art review of nutrient recovery and recycling from human urine (HU) in bioregenerative production practices, along with associated environmental constraints and concerns. HU contains essential nutrients needed for plant growth, making it an appealing fertilizer alternative. It releases plant nutrients faster than sources such as livestock/avian excreta, green manure and compost. One of the advantages of the reuse of HU in agriculture is the virtual absence or insignificant load of the hazardous chemical compounds and heavy metalloids that may occur in high concentrations in chemical phosphate fertilizers. Use of urine in aquaculture, such as in hydroponic cultivation of plants or growing zoo- and phytoplankton, has been attempted as a potential source of renewable nutrient resource. Better treatment of HU will comprise a combination of treatment processes, removal of phosphate and ammonium by struvite precipitation, and a biological process to eliminate organic pollutants and nitrogen.

ISBN:9781118921487

Jaar van publicatie:2020

Toegankelijkheid:Closed