Research Area: Resource Recovery

Our Objective

Transition the wastewater treatment industry to one focused on resource recovery (starting with nutrients) with the vision that most, if not all, materials in wastewater can be commoditized. Wastewater is a renewable resource. Get the related report.

 


The TERRY-Ag tool provides a high level, conceptual cost and energy estimation for nutrient recovery from agricultural wastes/sludges or from municipal sludges, as well as an estimate of the potential fertilizer production and revenue from recovery processes. The tool includes factsheets for the various technologies that are available for nutrient recovery. A series of five tutorial modules allows users to learn to use the TERRY-Ag tool with ease. 

Latest News

WRF Launches Project to Demonstrate Phosphorus Recovery Using CalPrex™ System
The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has launched a project, Demonstrating the CalPrex™ System for High Efficiency Phosphorus Recovery (5004), between the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (Madison, Wisconsin), Metro Wastewater Reclamation District (Denver, Colorado), Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (Boston, Massachusetts), and Centrisys/CNP (Kenosha, Wisconsin), to demonstrate a high-rate, pre-digestion phosphorus removal and recovery technology.
European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform - November 2016 SCOPE Newsletter
Highlighted news topics include new policy proposals, phosphorus research updates, and upcoming events.
Understanding the Impacts of Low-Energy and Low-Carbon Nitrogen Removal Technologies on Bio-P and Nutrient Recovery Processes (NTRY13R16)
WE&RF has awarded a contract to Northwestern University to study design and operational impacts of incorporating enhanced biological phosphorus removal (Bio-P) or other phosphorus recovery techniques with a low-energy, low-carbon nitrogen removal process at WRRFs.
Unintended Consequences of Resource Recovery on Overall Plant Performance: Solving the Impacts on Dewaterability Properties (NTRY12R16)
In order to assure the viability of Bio-P, WE&RF has entered into a contract with Bucknell University to determine if this phenomenon is more widespread, and to better understand and address dewaterability performance and its impact on Bio-P and P-recovery.
White Paper on Groundwater Replenishment with Recycled Water on Agricultural Lands (Reuse-16-03)
WE&RF has selected RMC Water and Environment to draft a White Paper that will investigate various aspects of existing regulatory frameworks as they may be applied to groundwater replenishment with recycled water on agricultural lands (Ag-GWR-RW) and consider alternative methods to meet the intent of those regulations.

Products & Tools

Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Wastewater (NTRY8R15b/4824)
This project quantifies the potential recovery and commoditization of rare earth elements (REE) from municipal wastewater and biosolids.
Technologies for Dairy Nutrient Recovery: Evaluation of Low-impact Ammonia Stripping with Bio-Fertilizer Recovery and Support for Technology Decision Making (STAR_N3R14b/4856b)
This study assessed the use of pilot- and commercial-scale ammonia stripping systems within the context of a proposed sequential manure treatment system of anaerobic digestion, coarse fiber separation, fine solids separation, and ammonia stripping.
Integrated Management of Animal Manure Wastes: Nutrient Recovery, Bio-Fertilizers, Enhanced Biomethane Production and Management Tools (STAR_N3R14c/4856c)
This research uses a life-cycle analysis to determine the water and energy use, and nutrient balance impacts of anaerobic digestion (AD) systems.
Tool for Evaluating Resource Recovery (TERRY) – Nutrient Recovery from Agriculture (STAR_N5R14T/4898)
This project provides a preliminary evaluation of the potential of nutrient recovery from a given wastestream and can be used by facilities interested in exploring the feasibility of recovering nitrogen and phosphorus onsite.
Sustainable Struvite Control Using Residual Gas from Digester Gas Cleaning Process (NTRY9T15/4825)
The primary purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using CO2 for struvite control and provide recommendations for implementation.