Nitrogen discharges via untreated wastewater or from wastewater treatment plants to the environment cause widespread eutrophication, harming aquatic life and resulting in economic losses. Conventional nitrogen removal from wastewater can prevent these negative impacts but requires substantial energy and chemical inputs. Meanwhile, synthesis of ammonia via the Haber-Bosch process has a substantial environmental footprint, and 4.5 billion people worldwide lack access to adequate sanitation. Recovering nitrogen for beneficial reuse in a circular economy could offset chemical production, reduce impacts of wastewater treatment and chemical manufacturing, and generate revenue to finance the expansion of sanitation systems. I conducted a literature review of nutrient technologies to propose a framework for standardized reporting and comparison of technologies and to prioritize research objectives. Comparing peer-reviewed literature with practitioner needs revealed misalignment between academic research and practice. Synthesizing barriers to adoption and knowledge gaps reported in literature and by practitioners, I proposed 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. This literature review guides my work on flexible electrochemical stripping (FECS), which achieves customizable acidic ammonium sulfate and alkaline ammonia recovery. Considering global applications, I investigate FECS for fecal sludge treatment in partnership with Delvic Sanitation Initiatives in Dakar, Senegal. The results of my literature review and process development will ultimately accelerate implementation for resource-efficient nutrient management.
All seminars begin at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-04:00).