THE EXTRACTION OF PHOSPHORUS FROM WASTEWATER

Abstract

Synthetic fertilisers based on nitrogen and phosphorus are being used more often, but this has resulted in a significant input of reactive nitrogen into the environment, substantially affecting the environment and health of humans. On the second side, the non-renewable resource phosphorus is seriously at risk of running out. Therefore, it is highly desirable to recover and utilize nitrogen and phosphorus. According to a report out of 170 tera-gram reactive nitrogen, only 4 tera-gram essentially accumulates in crops, and the remaining portion dissipates through air and water routes without leaving a trace. So, the recovery of N & P may reduce production and lead to less environmental entry. According to some reports, this has been proved that membrane separation offers Nitrogen recovery in the 99–100% range and is also able to recover Phosphorus in a significant amount, which demonstrates that membrane separation can be a good way the recovery of Nitrogen & Phosphorus but needs to be explored thoroughly and requires considerable research. Current phosphorus recovery techniques cannot separate harmful materials from recovered compounds and need very high phosphorus concentrations. Using membrane separation techniques, including nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and electrodialysis, is one way to address some of these problems. This study will lay a foundation for future investigations and advancements in the field of membrane separation processes for the recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus, especially using the NF (Nanofiltration) Process. As a result of the urgent concerns surrounding eutrophication and the escalating depletion of phosphorus resources, this response aims to address these challenges effectively.