Research Julia Santolin

Abstract

Municipal wastewater holds great potential for nutrient recovery. Globally, it contains about 16.6 Tg of nitrogen (N) and 3.0 Tg of phosphorus (P) per year. Recycling these nutrients could offset 14.4 % of the N and 6.8 % of the P currently used as fertilisers, reducing eutrophication and pollution while generating an estimated 11.3 billion USD in potential revenue. With 68 billion m3 of wastewater per year, Europe is the second largest wastewater producer after Asia. Countries such as Switzerland (VVEA), Germany (AbfKlärV), and Austria (AVV) have already introduced P-recycling obligations into their legislation, becoming leaders in nutrient recovery and proving that mandatory implementation can drive nutrient recovery. The recently revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), adopted by the EU Parliament, extends this approach by requiring P reuse and recycling and by lowering N and P discharge limits, suggesting that other EU countries will soon respond to this regulatory push. However, many factors might affect the adoption of nutrient recovery technologies across European regions. For example, the regulatory framework is key: countries with strict discharge limits, bans on land application of sewage sludge, or mandatory P recovery policies may be more likely to adopt N and P recovery technologies. Economic conditions also matter. Countries with high GDP per capita, low energy costs, intensive agriculture, strong R&D funding, and no domestic phosphate reserves are expected to have greater implementation potential. Moreover, geopolitical and environmental factors may also shape uptake: countries with low corruption, high eutrophication in receiving waters, or extensive nitrate-vulnerable zones are likely more willing to adopt recovery technologies. Beyond these regional drivers, the wastewater governance model varies—some countries rely on public utilities, others on private or mixed systems. This may affect adoption, as public operators tend to prioritise long-term environmental gains, while private firms may focus on short-term profits. An online survey will be developed to investigate the factors influencing the adoption of N and P recovery technologies and predict how European countries are going to respond to the new UWWTD. Conducting this survey will enable the development of effective intervention strategies for nutrient circularity in the wastewater treatment sector.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Santolin Julia

Research team(s)

• Biobased sustainability engineering (SUSTAIN)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are essential for all forms of life. The demand for these nutrients is constantly growing as a result of a rising population. Since the primary production of fertilizers leads to serious environmental impacts, the EU has declared an urgent need to reinvent the farm-to-fork value chain. Flanders is a nutrient-intensive region with a large potential for N and P recycling, especially in concentrated waste streams from livestock production, food processing, and wastewater treatment. The possible recycling technologies that can be used to achieve a more circular economy in this region are manifold. In order to allow decision-makers to plan this transition, the NutriChoice project is going to apply an interdisciplinary approach from the fields of environmental system analyses, socio-economics, and engineering. Novel methods and insights are going to be developed in three areas: i) the elicitation of choice behaviours of actors along the value chain, to quantify the choice variables that shape transition pathways; ii) the development of a prospective technology assessment for N and P recovery; and iii) the development of scenarios (MFA) for N and P in 2050. Conceptual maps, multiple-criteria decision analysis, technology development, technological learning & diffusion, and ex-ante consequential MFA will be used to propose intervention strategies that can effectively reduce the impact of the agro-food system in Flanders.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vlaeminck Siegfried
• Co-promoter: Spiller Marc
• Co-promoter: Van Passel Steven
• Fellow: Santolin Julia

Research team(s)

• Biobased sustainability engineering (SUSTAIN)

Project type(s)

• Research Project