Membrane-based processes for wastewater nutrient recovery: Technology, challenges, and future direction

Ming Xie; Ho Kyong Shon; Stephen R Gray; Menachem Elimelech

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2015.11.045

Membrane-based processes for wastewater nutrient recovery: Technology, challenges, and future direction

Water Res. 2016 Feb 1:89:210-21. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.11.045. Epub 2015 Nov 22.

Authors

Ming Xie¹, Ho Kyong Shon², Stephen R Gray³, Menachem Elimelech⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia. Electronic address: ming.xie@vu.edu.au.
² School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 129, Broadway, 2007 New South Wales, Australia.
³ Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia.
⁴ Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8286, United States.

PMID: 26674549
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.11.045

Abstract

Wastewater nutrient recovery holds promise for more sustainable water and agricultural industries. We critically review three emerging membrane processes - forward osmosis (FO), membrane distillation (MD) and electrodialysis (ED) - that can advance wastewater nutrient recovery. Challenges associated with wastewater nutrient recovery were identified. The advantages and challenges of applying FO, MD, and ED technologies to wastewater nutrient recovery are discussed, and directions for future research and development are identified. Emphasis is given to exploration of the unique mass transfer properties of these membrane processes in the context of wastewater nutrient recovery. We highlight that hybridising these membrane processes with existing nutrient precipitation process will lead to better management of and more diverse pathways for near complete nutrient recovery in wastewater treatment facilities.

Keywords: Ammonia recovery; Electrodialysis; Forward osmosis; Membrane distillation; Nutrient recovery; Phosphate recovery.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Distillation / methods
Electrochemical Techniques / methods
Membranes, Artificial*
Osmosis
Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
Wastewater*
Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry
Water Purification / methods

Substances

Membranes, Artificial
Waste Water
Water Pollutants, Chemical