Systematic Evaluation of Emerging Wastewater Nutrient Removal and Recovery Technologies to Inform Practice and Advance Resource Efficiency

Advancing nutrient recovery from
idea to implementation requires
reporting practices that facilitate comparison among diverse nutrient
removal and recovery (NRR) technologies and enhance the translation
of academic research to practice. We reviewed 157 technologies that
treat nitrogen- and/or phosphorus-laden wastewater across several
underlying mechanisms, stages of development, and scales of operation.
We outline a systematic reporting and analysis framework to characterize
NRR technologies using quantitative performance metrics (i.e., removal
and recovery efficiency, removal and recovery rate, energy consumption,
cost, greenhouse gas emissions, effluent concentration) and qualitative
attributes (e.g., technology readiness level). Comparing peer-reviewed
literature with practitioner needs reveals limited reporting of energy
consumption and cost, indicating misalignment between research and
practice. By synthesizing literature and practitioner input on anticipated
benefits, barriers to adoption, and knowledge gaps, we identify opportunities
for expanding benefits achieved by NRR technologies and aligning research
with critical barriers. We propose a research agenda addressing the
most reported gaps (e.g., underlying process mechanisms, scale-up)
and emphasizing rigorous investigations of systems-level impacts and
product-market fit. Results from this study will facilitate interdisciplinary
research on NRR technologies, guide technology development by academics
and practitioners, and accelerate implementation for resource-efficient
nutrient management fit for 21st century challenges.