Enhanced bio-minerals production using catalysts to accelerate resource recovery in wastewater treatment plants

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Nutrient resource recovery from wastewater and other waste streams is a challenge of the 21st century. Phosphorus is a finite resource being used at alarming rates for fertiliser production to secure agricultural productivity and food supply. Phosphorus has been named the 'disappearing nutrient'. On the other side, municipal wastewater and urine contain significant amounts of nutrients that can be recovered and reused in a range of industries. Biological crystal formation of phosphorus compounds (e.g.: struvite; magnesium phosphate, etc.), has been demonstrated to be a by-product of the metabolism of specific bacteria that can be found frequently in the environment. The ability of selected bacteria to produce bio-minerals from wastewater has been recently demonstrated at Cranfield University. The aim of the project is to advance the process for bio-mineral production from wastewater and urine.