Electrochemical phosphorus recovery from waste

Abstract

Phosphorus is a crucial resource for global agricultural production and industrial development. However, its natural reserves are unevenly distributed and increasingly constrained. Meanwhile, phosphorus pollution from agricultural runoff and wastewater discharge seriously threatens ecosystems and exacerbates the greenhouse effect. As a result, the recovery and control of phosphorus has attracted widespread attention. Here, the distribution of different phosphorus forms in wastewater and solid wastes was comprehensively reviewed, and the mechanisms of existing phosphorus recovery technologies elucidated. Recent advances in electrochemical methods for phosphorus recovery from these waste streams are then highlighted, with a focus on fundamental principles and key influencing parameters. Various processes are systematically evaluated in terms of operational mechanisms, recovery efficiency, energy consumption, and product quality. Integrated electrochemical technologies capable of simultaneously recovering phosphorus, nitrogen, and heavy metals are summarized, and the potential integration of machine learning with electrochemical approaches is explored. Finally, the current challenges and future prospects of electrochemical phosphorus recovery technologies are discussed. This review aims to provide a valuable technical reference for the control of phosphorus pollution and the recovery of resources from waste streams.