Recovery of Nutrients and Energy from Source Separated Urine

Recovery of Nutrients and Energy from Source Separated Urine

Wetsus, Centre for sustainable Water Technology

P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

Motivation

On average one person excretes 1.5 liter urine per day. In the conventional sanitation concept, within central waste water treatment plants, urine is diluted many times with other waste water streams. This dilution prevents the recovery of valuable components and an effective removal of micropollutants, like hormones and medicines.

With the application of a source separation concept a concentrated urine stream can be obtained. Urine contains approximately 80% of the nitrogen (N), 70 % of the potassium (K), 50% of the phosphorus (P) and 10% of the COD present in waste water. Moreover, micropollutants are present at a high concentration.

In this concentrated stream, the recovery of nutrients, energy and removal of micropollutants becomes more efficient.

Urine composition

Analyzed 24h mixed urine sample

Technological challenge

The main objective is to test and develop technologies for the recovery of nutrients and energy from human urine. The challenge is to separate, convert and collect different valuable fractions, e.g. MgNH4PO4, K+-salts, Ca2+-salts, NH3 and energy.

Urine for this project will be collected by using a Roediger separation toilet and an Urimat® water free urinal.

The goal is to produce products that fit the market demand for reuse.

New Process Application