Optimization of Phosphorus Recovery from Anaerobic Digester Effluents in Agro-industry

The study focused on the importance of phosphorus (P) for sustaining life and its widespread use in agriculture. As the main sources of P are depleting, and significant amounts are being wasted into water bodies, there’s a pressing need to protect these water bodies, especially in the face of climate change and droughts. To address this, the study aimed to optimize P recovery from wastewater, particularly from Anaerobic Digestion (AD) effluents, using various precipitation methods and alternative materials like seawater, brine, mussel shells, and cork ashes. The results showed that alternative sources like these can effectively recover P, contributing to a circular economy for the agri-food industry and helping secure food production while protecting water bodies from environmental damage.