A new European project will develop, optimise and evaluate an innovative bio-electrochemical system that allows for the recovery of phosphorus, ammonia and electricity from urine.
The Wetsus project is aptly named 'ValueFromUrine'. Wetsus acts as Technological Top Institute for Water technology and is located in The Netherlands.
Wetsus’ scientific research program is defined by the private and public water sector and conducted by leading universities.
Phosphorus is a limited resource and ammonia production from inert nitrogen gas in the atmosphere is an energy intensive process.
The main use of phosphorus and ammonia is fertilizer production. The recovery of nutrients from urine can help to overcome future shortages.
Using an innovative bio-electrochemical system (Microbial Fuel Cell) in combination with a phosphorus recovery step (Struvite) precipitation valuable ammonia and phosphate salt can be recovered and energy can be produced.
Joining Wetsus in this project are DeSaH (Netherlands), Magneto Special Anodes (Netherlands), Mast Carbon (UK), Abengoa Water (Spain), CRP Henri Tudor (Luxemburg) and University of Minho (Portugal).