Advancements and Future Perspectives in Biological Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal Coupled Resource Recovery Processes

The growing global population and the expansion of agricultural production have resulted in the excessive use of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), which has become a significant environmental challenge. Consequently, addressing wastewater treatment has become a critical priority for achieving sustainable development. This paper presents an overview of the fundamental principles and typical processes for biological N and P removal, followed by a detailed examination of various methods for recovering N and P resources from wastewater. Furthermore, the necessity, characteristics, and applications of biological N and P removal coupled with resource recovery processes are comprehensively analyzed. These coupled processes are anticipated to evolve continually, enhancing treatment efficiency, enabling the simultaneous removal of multiple pollutants, and improving resource recovery, thus advancing the development of green and sustainable water treatment technologies. In the future, the integration of intelligent informatization control of traditional technology, gradual development of emerging technology will promote the widespread implementation of this technology in wastewater treatment with policy support from the government, fostering resource recycling and contributing to environmental protection.

Graphical Abstract