Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Urine Source Separation and Treatment: Nutrient Recovery using Low-Cost Materials
EPA Grant Number: SU835326Title: Urine Source Separation and Treatment: Nutrient Recovery using Low-Cost Materials
Investigators: Boyer, Treavor H. , Cribbs, Katie , Landry, Kelly , O’Neal, Jeremy
Institution: University of Florida
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: August 15, 2012 through August 14, 2013
Project Amount: $15,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2012) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities , P3 Challenge Area - Chemical Safety , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
Developed countries have well-established complex wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure. Because such large volumes of wastewater are generated, it is neither economical nor efficient to attempt to remove or recover nutrients (i.e., phosphorus [P] and nitrogen [N]) at central treatment plants. Thus, the decentralized approach of urine source separation and treatment would enable individual households, multi-family buildings, and shared and public facilities to collect and treat urine more efficiently (see Fig. ES1). The proposed system also could be implemented in developing countries that lack the financial means necessary to construct and maintain the infrastructure required for a centralized wastewater treatment system. The decentralized treatment approach has been proposed as the most reliable and cost effective method of treatment in these developing areas.
The goal of this project was to investigate the use of ion-exchange materials, including engineered, natural, and waste byproducts, for pharmaceutical removal, P recovery, and N recovery from source-separated urine. The three project objectives were to: (1) evaluate various ion-exchange materials for pharmaceutical separation and nutrient recovery from urine; (2) identify the life cycle impacts of using nutrients recovered from urine as fertilizer; and (3) evaluate innovative learning approaches for generating excitement and improving understanding of sustainable wastewater management. Research Objective 1 was further divided into three specific objectives: (1a) conduct bench-scale single-column experiments for pharmaceutical removal using anion exchange polymer resin, for phosphate removal using hybrid organic-inorganic anion exchange resin, and for ammonium removal using the natural zeolite to establish breakthrough and expected behavior; (1b) conduct bench-scale columns-in-series experiments for pharmaceutical removal using anion exchange polymer resin, for phosphate removal using hybrid organic-inorganic anion exchange resin, and for ammonium removal using natural zeolite to establish expectations for pilot-scale performance; and (1c) complete pilot-scale columns-in-series experiments for pharmaceutical removal using biochar vs. anion exchange polymer resin, for phosphate removal using drinking water treatment alum sludge vs. hybrid organic-inorganic anion exchange resin, and for ammonium removal using wood mulch vs. natural zeolite to establish expectations for full-scale performance.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
New knowledge of adsorption reactions involving pharmaceuticals, P, and N in urine was attained through bench- and pilot-scale column experiments. Columns were loaded with adsorptive materials in order to reach breakthrough based on assumed capacities. The single-column experiments confirmed that high removal of nutrients and pharmaceuticals is possible in urine and also generated breakthrough curves on which the columns-in-series experiments were based. For example, it was found that pharmaceuticals and nutrients can be removed to a great extent from urine (>95%). Ion-exchange materials were compared against recycled materials in the pilot-scale experiments in order to identify the most suitable materials for maximum recovery and sustainability. All anticipated outputs from Objective 1 were met.
All anticipated outputs for Objectives 2 and 3 were attained. New knowledge was generated for life cycle impacts of urine treatment considering nutrient recovery and commercial fertilizer production. Objective 3 was addressed through the education and participation of middle school students and through the use of multiple social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter. This allowed for a broad audience to better understand and appreciate novel approaches to wastewater management.
Conclusions:
The proposed treatment system was based on the implementation of urine source separation and treatment in each building on UF’s campus, and the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences in Black Hall was designated as the model building. Urine collected from urinals was the main focus because installation of waterless urinals would minimize dilution of urine and waterless urinals are commercially available. There are 13 male faculty and staff in the department and UF has a male to female ratio of 47% to 53%; this ratio was used to estimate 28 male graduate students in the department and 14 male undergraduate students per class period. Assuming that faculty, staff, and graduate students occupy the building 40 hrs/week and the three classrooms are used full time, the total male people hours in Black Hall are 151,268 hrs/year. Males have a urination frequency of 0.29 visits/hr, thus producing 8,824 L/yr from Black Hall restrooms. If this volume were treated, 21 kg N/yr and 1.4 kg P/yr could be recovered, and 0.3 kg pharmaceuticals/yr could be removed. Additionally, if waterless urinals were installed, thereby eliminating flush water, 83,828 L/yr of potable-quality water could be conserved.
The proposed urine treatment system could be scaled up to treat the entire UF campus and generate $6137/yr worth of 4478 kg of ammonium fertilizer and $1566/yr worth of 961 kg of phosphate fertilizer. By treating the urine of the UF campus separately from the conventional wastewater treatment plant, less energy usage at the wastewater treatment plant is realized (an economic and environmental benefit) and the wastewater treatment plant capacity is increased, which delays new infrastructure costs (an economic benefit). Nutrient loading and eutrophication events are reduced (a social and environmental benefit), and pharmaceuticals are removed from urine (an environmental benefit).
Fig. ES1 – Conventional wastewater treatment vs. urine source-separation and treatment: impacts on people, prosperity, and the planet.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 1 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
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Boyer T, Saetta D. Opportunities for Building-Scale Urine Diversion and Challenges for Implementation. ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH 2019;52(4):886-895. |
SU835326 (Final) SU835719 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
fertilizer; ion exchange; nitrogen; phosphorus; pharmaceuticals; wastewater treatment.The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.