Socio-Hydrological Approach to the Evaluation of Global Fertilizer Substitution by Sustainable Struvite Precipitants from Wastewater
Despite Africa controlling the vast majority of the global phosphate it also faces the greatest food shortages – partially due to a lack of access to the fertilizer market. A more accessible source of phosphorus comes from wastewater flows, which is currently lost through the discharge to open s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2018-02-01
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| Series: | Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences |
| Online Access: | https://www.proc-iahs.net/376/83/2018/piahs-376-83-2018.pdf |
| Summary: | Despite Africa controlling the vast majority of the global
phosphate it also faces the greatest food shortages – partially due to a
lack of access to the fertilizer market. A more accessible source of
phosphorus comes from wastewater flows, which is currently lost through the
discharge to open surface waters. Analysing the potential phosphorus
production of urban and livestock wastewater in meeting partial agricultural
demand for phosphorus can improve food security, reduce consumption of
unrenewable phosphorus, reduce pollution, and aid the transitioning to a
circular economy. In this study, a global overview is provided where a
selection of P-production and P-consumption sites have been determined using
global spatial data. Distances, investment costs and associated carbon
footprints are then considered in modelling a simple, alternative trade
network of struvite phosphorus flows. The network reveals potential for
increasing the phosphorus security through phosphorus recycling in
particularly the South Africa, Lake Victoria and Nigeria regions. Given
Africa's rapid urbanization, phosphorus recovery from wastewater will prove
an important step in creating sustainable communities, protecting the
environment while improving food security, and so contributing to the United
Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. |
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| ISSN: | 2199-8981 2199-899X |