Membrane-based processes for wastewater nutrient recovery: Technology, challenges, and future direction

• We reviewed emerging membrane processes for wastewater nutrient recovery.
• Forward osmosis (FO) with its low fouling propensity enables high nutrient enrichment.
• Membrane distillation (MD) utilising low-grade heat selectively recovers ammonia.
• Electrodialysis (ED) selectively extracts phosphate or phosphoric acid.
• Integration of FO, MD and ED can potentially achieve complete nutrient recovery.

Wastewater nutrient recovery holds promise for more sustainable water and agricultural industries. We critically review three emerging membrane processes – forward osmosis (FO), membrane distillation (MD) and electrodialysis (ED) – that can advance wastewater nutrient recovery. Challenges associated with wastewater nutrient recovery were identified. The advantages and challenges of applying FO, MD, and ED technologies to wastewater nutrient recovery are discussed, and directions for future research and development are identified. Emphasis is given to exploration of the unique mass transfer properties of these membrane processes in the context of wastewater nutrient recovery. We highlight that hybridising these membrane processes with existing nutrient precipitation process will lead to better management of and more diverse pathways for near complete nutrient recovery in wastewater treatment facilities.

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