A world without phosphorous is a world without life. But phosphorous is a finite resource, so researchers are recovering it from sewage.
According to the online news agency ABC Nyheter in Norway, the phosphorous crisis is perhaps the least well-known emergency in the world today. The Norwegian research news website forskning.no says that many scientists are warning of a state of “Peak phosphorus ”, comparable to the expression “Peak oil”.
The adoption of recycling and a circular economy are thus essential if we are to ensure that this vital element is not lost. This is where a research project called Recover comes in. With SINTEF as a research partner, collaborating with NTNU and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), this vital element can be recovered.
“SINTEF’s role in the Recover project is primarily to develop wastewater treatment processes that ensure that phosphorous is recovered using as little energy as possible”, says Herman Helness, a Senior Researcher at SINTEF. “We’re working on a forward osmosis-based approach that may be suitable for coastal sewage cleaning plants,” he says.
Continue reading at Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Image via Norwegian University of Science and Technology
