Recovering nutrients and rejecting trace organic compounds in human urine by a forward osmosis–membrane distillation (FO–MD) hybrid system

• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2022.311
• Publication Date: 2022-10-03T14:51:16Z
• Authors: Chihiro Gau; Satoshi Sato; Daizhou Zhang; Yasuhiro Ishibashi; Jun Kobayashi
• Keywords: Struvite; Membrane Distillation

Urine is a major source of reclaimed water and fertilizer. treatment involves two key processes: the recovery nutrients rejection trace organic compounds (TOrCs). In this study, we investigated TOrCs in human urine using seawater-driven forward osmosis membrane distillation (FO-MD) hybrid system. Three 24 h experiments were conducted at draw solution temperatures 30, 40, 50 °C. The average rates cations, anions, dissolved carbon more than 93.7% 79.5% FO-MD system FO side, respectively. Ten types detected feed solution, whereas none product water, indicating that completely rejected. precipitates, i.e., recovered extremely close to magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite, MgNH4PO4·6H2O), according their electron microscopic images, elemental composition, X-ray diffraction spectra, it was estimated approximately 85% recovered. efficiencies unaffected by temperature. These results indicate potential for sustainable use FO-MD-based treatments urine.